Brendan Halligan
Encyclopedia
Brendan Halligan is an Irish
economist and a former Labour Party
politician.
Brendan Halligan was born in Dublin in 1936. Educated at St James’s Christian Brothers
School and Kevin Street College of Technology
, Dublin, his early career was as an economist. He worked with the Irish Sugar Company until 1967 when he became involved in politics. In that year he became General-Secretary of the Labour Party. The leader, Brendan Corish, relied on Halligan's intellectual and political skills in his new role. Under Halligan the party underwent an energetic reorganisation. New structures and policies were put in place, coinciding with the party’s leftward policy shift and an acute anti-coalition stance. Halligan strongly supported both ideals, but was instrumental in securing the eventual, and somewhat unwilling, acceptance by the party of the reversal of anti-coalitionism after the disappointing results 1969 General Election
.
The 1973 General Election
saw a Fine Gael
-Labour Party coalition government come to power. Halligan, who did not contest the general election was rewarded by being appointed to Seanad Éireann
. Three years later in 1976 he won a by-election in Dublin South West
, and as a result became a TD
. After boundary changes, he stood in the new Dublin Finglas
at the 1977 General Election
, but was not re-elected. He continued to serve as General-Secretary of the party until 1980. Halligan stood again in the revived Dublin North West
constituency at the 1981
and November 1982 general elections, but was not elected in either contest. However, he was appointed as a Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) from 1983 until 1984
.
Following the end of Halligan's political career he has been managing partner in a public affairs consultancy. He is Chairman of the Institute of International and European Affairs
, a policy think tank and forum, and Adjunct Professor in European Affairs at the University of Limerick
and was chairman of Bord na Móna
from 1985 until 1995. He has been a non-executive member of the board of Irish Permanent
since 1992. Like many of his colleagues in the Labour Party, Halligan has had a strong commitment to Europe
and European affairs, a trait which was hidden during the party's campaign against the 1972 referendum
deciding Ireland
's membership of the European Economic Community
. Halligan has also been a member of the Irish Council of the European Movement.
He is currently the Policy Coordinator for the Labour Party.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
economist and a former Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
politician.
Brendan Halligan was born in Dublin in 1936. Educated at St James’s Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
School and Kevin Street College of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology was established officially in 1992 under the but had been previously set up in 1978 on an ad-hoc basis. The institution can trace its origins back to 1887 with the establishment of various technical institutions in Dublin, Ireland...
, Dublin, his early career was as an economist. He worked with the Irish Sugar Company until 1967 when he became involved in politics. In that year he became General-Secretary of the Labour Party. The leader, Brendan Corish, relied on Halligan's intellectual and political skills in his new role. Under Halligan the party underwent an energetic reorganisation. New structures and policies were put in place, coinciding with the party’s leftward policy shift and an acute anti-coalition stance. Halligan strongly supported both ideals, but was instrumental in securing the eventual, and somewhat unwilling, acceptance by the party of the reversal of anti-coalitionism after the disappointing results 1969 General Election
Irish general election, 1969
The Irish general election of 1969 was held on 18 June 1969. The newly elected members of the 19th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 July when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed...
.
The 1973 General Election
Irish general election, 1973
The Irish general election of 1973 was held on 28 February 1973. The newly elected 144 members of the 20th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 4 March when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
saw a Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
-Labour Party coalition government come to power. Halligan, who did not contest the general election was rewarded by being appointed to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
. Three years later in 1976 he won a by-election in Dublin South West
Dublin South West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
, and as a result became a TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
. After boundary changes, he stood in the new Dublin Finglas
Dublin Finglas (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin Finglas was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981...
at the 1977 General Election
Irish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
, but was not re-elected. He continued to serve as General-Secretary of the party until 1980. Halligan stood again in the revived Dublin North West
Dublin North West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin North–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
constituency at the 1981
Irish general election, 1981
The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
and November 1982 general elections, but was not elected in either contest. However, he was appointed as a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
(MEP) from 1983 until 1984
European Parliament election, 1984 (Ireland)
The 1984 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 1984 European Parliament election. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote.-Results:-Voting details:-See also:...
.
Following the end of Halligan's political career he has been managing partner in a public affairs consultancy. He is Chairman of the Institute of International and European Affairs
Institute of International and European Affairs
The Institute of International and European Affairs is Ireland’s leading think tank on European and International affairs and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation with charitable status. Its extensive research programme aims to provide its members with high-level analysis and forecasts...
, a policy think tank and forum, and Adjunct Professor in European Affairs at the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
and was chairman of Bord na Móna
Bord na Móna
Bord na Móna , abbreviated BNM, is a semi-state company in Ireland, created in 1946 by the Turf Development Act 1946. The company is responsible for the mechanised harvesting of peat, primarily in the Midlands of Ireland...
from 1985 until 1995. He has been a non-executive member of the board of Irish Permanent
Irish Life and Permanent
Irish Life and Permanent, Plc or IL&P is a provider of personal financial services in Ireland. IL&P enjoys limited liability....
since 1992. Like many of his colleagues in the Labour Party, Halligan has had a strong commitment to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and European affairs, a trait which was hidden during the party's campaign against the 1972 referendum
Third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
The Third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland permitted the state to join the European Communities and provided that European law would take precedence over the constitution...
deciding Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's membership of the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
. Halligan has also been a member of the Irish Council of the European Movement.
He is currently the Policy Coordinator for the Labour Party.