John Bruton was born in 1947 and graduated from University College Dublin
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and politics in 1968, before
studying to become a barrister. He was called to the Bar of Ireland in 1972. He
holds Honorary Degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland and the
National University of Ireland.
He is married to Finola Bruton and has 4 adult children.
PERIOD AS TAOISEACH
John Bruton is a former Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), who helped transform
the Irish economy into the "Celtic Tiger," when it became, for a
period of 12 years, one of the fastest
growing economies in the world. In the
year before he took office (1993) the Irish economy grew by 2.7%. During his time
as Taoiseach (1994-1997), the Irish economy grew at an annual average rate of
8.7%, peaking at 11.1% in 1997.
John Bruton was also deeply involved in the Northern Irish Peace Process,
leading to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, under whose terms a conflict of
allegiances dating back to the seventeenth century was resolved.
While Prime Minister, he presided over a successful Irish EU Presidency
in 1996 and helped finalize the Stability and Growth Pact, which governs the
management of the single European currency, the Euro.
Mr. Bruton addressed a joint session of the US Congress on September 11,
1996, as only the 30th head of state or government of an EU country to do so
since 1945. He was probably the only President in office of the European
Council to have addressed a joint session of Congress. Further, he represented
the EU at Summit meetings with the President of the United States and with the
Prime Ministers of Canada, Japan, China and Korea.
MEMBER OF CONVENTION ON FUTURE OF EUROPE
Before being appointed European Union Ambassador to the United States in
2004, John Bruton served as a leading member of the Convention that drafted the
proposed European Constitution, which was signed in Rome on October 29, 2004.
In that capacity, he strongly supported proposals to give the general
public a more direct say in the choice of EU leadership by allowing the public
of the 27 EU Member States directly to elect the President of the European
Commission.
VICE PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN PEOPLES PARTY
From 1999 until his appointment as Ambassador in 2004, he was one of ten
Vice Presidents of the European People's Party, which brings together the
leaderships of 74 European political parties, many of whom are in Government in
their countries.
EU AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
As EU Ambassador in Washington from 2004 to 2009 , John
Bruton met with the President, and former Presidents, of the United
States and visited with governors, mayors, business leaders and students in
most US states to explain that the expanding European Union is good for the US
economy and good for American jobs.
In Washington,DC, he had
one-to-one meetings with over 250 Members of Congress to explain major EU
developments and discuss the importance of the EU-US relationship in matters of
trade, counterterrorism, public health, energy, the environment and the
promotion of peace, democracy and human rights around the world.
PARLIAMENTARY CAREER IN IRELAND
John Bruton was first elected to the Irish Parliament ("Dáil
Éireann") in 1969 at the age of 22 as a member of the Fine Gael Party,
becoming Party Leader in 1990 and leading it into government in 1994.
He served as Ireland’s Minister for Finance (1981-1982 and 1986-1987);
Minister for Industry & Energy (1982-1983); Minister for Trade, Commerce
& Tourism (1983-1986); and was Parliamentary Secretary (Junior Minister)
from 1973-1977.
He has also been opposition spokesman on Agriculture and on
Education.
MINISTER FOR FINANCE
As Minister for Finance, he began the task of overcoming a major budget
deficit crisis for Ireland in 1981 and made proposals to overhaul budgetary
procedures to allow long-term planning and a realistic appraisal of the choices
facing legislators. He also introduced a system of self assessment for tax
payers which enhanced the effficiency of the tax collection system.
MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY
As Minister for Industry, he prepared and had enacted into law the comprehensive
industrial development legislation, which underpins Irish growth to this day,
and undertook a major overhaul of Irish company law.
He resigned his seat in Dail Eireann effective November 1, 2004 to take
up his appointment as EU Commission Head of Delegation in the United States for
a five-year term which ended in October 2009.
PRESENT ROLES
Currently , since leaving his position as Ambassador in 2009, John Bruton
is Chairman of IFSC Ireland, a private sector body set up to develop the
financial services industry in Ireland. He is a member of the board of
Ingersoll Rand plc, of Montpelier Re plc, and of the Centre for European Policy
Studies.
He is a Distinguished Fellow at
the Centre for Transatlantic Relations in Washington DC ,and has been a
visiting fellow at the European Institute in the London School of Economics
