Joe O'Brien (politician)


Joe O'Brien is an Irish Green Party politician who has served as Minister of State for Community Development and Charities since July 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin Fingal constituency since the 2019 Dublin Fingal by-election.

Background

O'Brien was born in Grenagh, County Cork. Previous to being elected as a TD, O'Brien graduated from University College Cork with a degree in French and Economics. After his studies, he moved to Dublin, where he became an advocate for inclusion and migrant rights. He has worked for the Immigrant Council of Ireland as well as Crosscare, a social care agency created by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, which is one of the largest providers of services to the homeless in Dublin city.

Politics

O'Brien was a member of Fingal County Council from May 2014 to November 2019, representing the Balbriggan local electoral area.
He was elected to the Dáil in a by-election in November 2019, and retained his seat in the 2020 Irish general election. Following the formation of a coalition government in late June 2020, O'Brien was appointed as Minister of State for Community Development and Charities at the Department of Social Protection.
In July 2020, O'Brien abstained from voting for the Government's Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill, and was sanctioned by Green Party leader Eamon Ryan by having his speaking rights withdrawn for two months.