James Browne (Fianna Fáil politician)

James Browne (born 15 October 1975^{[citation needed]}) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage since January 2025. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency since 2016.^[1][2] He previously served as a Minister of State at the Department of Justice from 2020 to 2025.

James Browne TD
Browne in 2023
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 January 2025
Taoiseach	Micheál Martin
Preceded by	Darragh O'Brien
Minister of State
2020–2025	Justice
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office February 2016
Constituency	Wexford
Personal details
Born	(1975-10-15) 15 October 1975 (age 49)[citation needed] 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]

At the 2024 general election, Browne was re-elected to the Dáil. On 23 January 2025, Browne was appointed as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the government led by Micheál Martin.^[12]

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