James Browne (Fianna Fáil politician)

James Browne (born 15 October 1975) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as a Minister of State at the Department of Justice since September 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency since 2016.^[1][2]

James Browne TD
Browne in 2023
Minister of State
2020–	Justice
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office February 2016
Constituency	Wexford
Personal details
Born	(1975-10-15) 15 October 1975 (age 49) Wexford, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Parent	John Browne (father)
Relatives	Seán Browne (granduncle)
Alma mater	University College Cork King's Inns
Website	jamesbrowne.ie

Browne comes from a family of Fianna Fáil politicians. He is the only son of former TD John Browne.^[3] His grand uncle, Seán Browne, was also a TD. He studied hotel management and catering in Dublin IT before studying law in Waterford IT, University College Cork and King's Inns, where he qualified as a barrister.^[4][3]

He was member of Enniscorthy Town Council from 2009 to 2014. He was a member of Wexford County Council from 2014 to 2016.^[5] At the 2016 general election, Browne was selected to replace his father John as a Fianna Fáil candidate for Wexford, as he was retiring from politics. Browne was elected as a TD in this election, receiving 13.7% of the vote; however his running-mates Malcolm Byrne and Aoife Byrne were not elected.

Browne opposed the repeal of the 8th amendment in 2018, which removed the ban on abortion in Ireland.^[6]

On 2 September 2020, Browne was appointed by the coalition government led by Micheál Martin as a Minister of State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for law reform.^[7][8] He was assigned additional responsibility for civil justice and immigration from April to October 2021 during the maternity leave of Helen McEntee.^[9][10][11]

Browne is married and has two children.^[4]

References

1. "James Browne". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
2. "Election 2016: John Browne". RTÉ. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
3. "Legal eagle flying high in hectic world of politics". independent. February 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
4. Bowers, Shauna. "Election 2020: James Browne (Fianna Fáil)". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
5. "James Browne". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
6. Ó Cionnaith, Fiachra; McEnroe, Juno (12 January 2018). "Fianna Fáil TD claims Down Syndrome abortions will increase". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
7. "McConalogue succeeds Calleary in agriculture post". RTÉ News. 2 September 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
8. Justice (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 504 of 2020). Signed on 3 November 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 11 November 2020.
9. "Statement by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee". Department of Justice. 11 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
10. Justice (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 251 of 2021). Signed on 18 May 2021. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 May 2021.
11. Justice (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 594 of 2021). Signed on 9 November 2021. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 November 2021.

External links

• James Browne's page on the Fianna Fáil website

Political offices
Preceded by Charlie McConalogue	Minister of State at the Department of Justice 2020–present	Incumbent