Bairbre de Brún
Bairbre de Brún | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the European Parliament for Northern Ireland | |
| Assumed office 2004 | |
| Constituency | Northern Ireland |
| Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety | |
| In office 1999–2002 | |
| Preceded by | Office Created |
| Succeeded by | Michael McGimpsey |
| MLA | |
| In office 1998–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Office Created |
| Succeeded by | Sue Ramsey |
| Constituency | West Belfast |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1954 Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin (BA Hons / H. Diploma in Education) Queen's University Belfast (P.E.C.E) |
| Profession | Politician Teacher |
| Website | Bairbre de Brún MEP |
Bairbre de Brún, is an Irish politician and member of the European Parliament, representing Northern Ireland.[1]
Political Work
Born in Dublin on 10 January 1954[1], de Brún became interested in the political landscape of Ireland and, in particular, the dire situation at the time in Northern Ireland. She began her political career as a member of the National Committee Against The H-Blocks & Armagh Gaol in the late 1970s and early 1980s, focusing heavily on the treatment of women withing Armagh Gaol, working in the Women's Department and as head of both the Cultural and International Departments. Bairbre de Brún became an early member of Sinn Féin's Ard Comhairle (Template:Lang-en) and in 1998 became an MLA in the regional government, representing West Belfast. She was Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
By profession, de Brún was a teacher and taught in the Irish-medium education sector in West Belfast. She was also a French and German teacher and is noted for her devotion to the Irish language. She has lived in the Andersonstown area of Belfast since the early 1980s. She is a fluent Irish speaker and an expert in human rights and equality issues. De Brún is also a member of the Sinn Féin negotiating team and travelled internationally on numerous occasions to promote the peace process.
Bairbre is a member of the Regional Policy Committee in the European Parliament and a substitute member of the Environment Committee.[2] She is one of two Sinn Féin MEPs and the first Sinn Féin politician to represent Northern Ireland in the European Parliament. She sits with the European United Left - Nordic Green Left.
Gaza conflict
While speaking in the European Parliament on Gaza, De Brún called for Israel to be punished due to their "slaughter of innocent people" and received a standing ovation from mostly left-leaning MEPs. In February 2009, she travelled to Gaza with MEPs as she had done previously with Sinn Féin members. On 5 March, she spoke in Belfast, revealing the results of her visit to the area. De Brún invited a speaker from the Israeli embassy in Dublin to join her along with spokespeople from various fund-raising groups.
Social Equality
In January and February 2009, Bairbre supported a motion to "work hard" on inproving law against the LGBT community, following the murder of a transexual human rights activist in Honduras.[3]
She has also been a strong supporter of the Irish language and its use globally, and is the only MEP across Ireland to use Irish as her priority language, rarely making speeched within the parliament in English.
References
- ^ a b Bairbre de Brún EU Parliament website
- ^ Bairbre de Brún profile on MiCandidate.eu
- ^ Parliamentary Questions EU Parliament
External links
- Official Sinn Féin biography
- European Parliament profile
- Maiden Speech : European Parliament - 21 July 2004
- 1954 births
- GUE–NGL MEPs serving 2004-2009
- Living people
- Northern Ireland MLAs 1998-2003
- Northern Ireland MLAs 2003-2007
- Northern Ireland Government ministers
- People from Dublin (city)
- Sinn Féin politicians
- Female Members of the European Parliament
- Female members of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Members of the European Parliament for Northern Ireland