Third time lucky for ‘pompous, collegiate’ Brendan Howlin

It is a case of third time lucky for new Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin and a belated birthday present for the Wexford TD, who turned 60 earlier this month.

Twice before now he went for the big job - first in 1997, when the rainbow coalition ended and Dick Spring resigned.

Ruairí Quinn won on that occasion.

Then, five years later, Pat Rabbitte proved victorious.

This time around it was leadership by coronation - to a very small monarchy of just seven TDs, five Senators and 50 councillors.

Articulate, combative and effective in parliamentary debate, liberal on social issues, Howlin is described as a competent minister who had a good working relationship with civil servants, but who is never off-guard, whether dealing with media or party members.

Steeped in tradition

He comes from a family steeped in the Labour Party tradition. His father John Howlin was secretary of the Wexford branch of the ITGWU at a time when, as one Labour member described it, the union and the party were indistinguishable in the constituency. The younger Howlin was also greatly influenced by former leader Brendan Corish.

The former national school teacher served as a county and borough councillor between 1981 and 1993. He was a taoiseach’s nominee to the Seanad from 1982 until 1987, when he was first elected to the Dáil.

He served as minister for public expenditure and reform in the last government, as minister for health from 1993 to 1994 in the brief coalition with Fianna Fáil, and as minister for the environment in 1994 to 1997 in the rainbow coalition.

In opposition, he served variously as the party’s spokesman on finance, justice, and health, as deputy leader when he lost out in the 1997 leadership contest, and as leas cheann comhairle, from 2007 to 2011.

Drive and energy

Supporters believe Mr Howlin has the drive and energy to rebuild the party.

After saving the country, saving the Labour Party is going to be “much easier” for the man who has the “determination to rebuild Labour”.

One supporter described him as “single-mindedly focused on politics. He doesn’t have another life.”

He is “tigerish”, it is said, and while some suggest he got former leader Joan Burton’s job in 2011, supporters say then leader Eamon Gilmore made the decision that he had the toughness for huge cuts in expenditure that went with the role of minister for public expenditure and reform.

Sources suggest the re-build plan will be to double the number of seats to 14 at the next election, by focusing on 20 constituencies and including former TDs, senators and councillors.

Even his supporters say “he can be pompous, pepperish - he doesn’t suffer fools gladly - but he is also very collegiate”.

This latter trait was shown, they say, by the tribute he paid to Ms Burton’s leadership on his accession, despite the extreme private tensions between the two.

He is described as very private, with a small close-knit circle of friends including his programme manager at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Anne Byrne; her partner, former Labour party national organiser Pat Magnier, and Wexford Councillor George Lawlor - his heir apparent in Wexford.