James Browne | |
---|---|
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage | |
Assumed office 23 January 2025 | |
Taoiseach | |
Preceded by | Darragh O'Brien |
Minister of State | |
2020–2025 | Justice |
Teachta Dála | |
Assumed office February 2016 | |
Constituency | Wexford |
Personal details | |
Born | citation needed] Wexford, Ireland | 15 October 1975 [
Political party | Fianna Fáil |
Parent |
|
Relatives | Seán Browne (granduncle) |
Alma mater | |
Website | jamesbrowne |
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.
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]