James Browne (born 15 October 1975) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as a Minister of State at the Department of Justice since September 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency since 2016.[1][2]
James Browne | |
|---|---|
_2020.jpg) Browne in 2020 | |
| Minister of State | |
| 2020– | Justice |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Wexford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 October 1975 Wexford, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Seán Browne (granduncle) |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | jamesbrowne |
Browne comes from a family of Fianna Fáil politicians. He is the only son of former TD John Browne.[3] His great 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]
Browne is married and has two children.[4]