Michael McDowell (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael McDowell
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McDowell in 2024
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| Senator | |
| Assumed office 8 June 2016 |
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| Constituency | National University |
| Tánaiste | |
| In office 13 September 2006 – 14 June 2007 |
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| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | Mary Harney |
| Succeeded by | Brian Cowen |
| Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform | |
| In office 6 June 2002 – 14 June 2007 |
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| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | John O'Donoghue |
| Succeeded by | Brian Lenihan |
| Leader of the Progressive Democrats | |
| In office 11 September 2006 – 25 May 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Mary Harney |
| Succeeded by | Mary Harney |
| Attorney General of Ireland | |
| In office 17 July 1999 – 6 June 2002 |
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| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | David Byrne |
| Succeeded by | Rory Brady |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office May 2002 – May 2007 |
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| In office November 1992 – June 1997 |
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| In office February 1987 – June 1989 |
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| Constituency | Dublin South-East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 May 1951 Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent (2009–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Niamh Brennan
(m. 1979) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Gonzaga College |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  Army Reserve |
| Years of service | 1970–1981 |
Michael McDowell (born 1 May 1951) is an Irish independent politician and a successful lawyer known as a barrister. He has been an important figure in Irish politics since the 1980s. Currently, he is a member of the Seanad Éireann (the Irish Senate), representing the National University of Ireland.
McDowell's grandfather was the famous Irish revolutionary Eoin MacNeill. McDowell studied law and became a barrister in 1974. He was a founding member of the Progressive Democrats political party. He was elected three times as a Teachta Dála (TD), which is a member of the Irish parliament, Dáil Éireann.
He held some of the most important jobs in the Irish government. He was the Attorney General of Ireland (the government's top lawyer) from 1999 to 2002. He then served as the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform from 2002 to 2007. For a short time, he was also the Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and leader of the Progressive Democrats.
After his party did poorly in the 2007 election, he left politics to work as a lawyer again. However, he returned in 2016 and was elected to the Seanad. He is known for his strong opinions and played a key role in the 2024 referendums on Family and Care.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael McDowell was born in Dublin. He went to a Jesuit school called Gonzaga College. After that, he studied at University College Dublin (UCD), where he was a top student in the Law Society.
He continued his studies at the King's Inns in Dublin to become a barrister, a type of lawyer who represents people in court. He started his legal career in 1974. In 1987, he was given the special title of senior counsel because of his skill and experience as a lawyer.
Political Career
McDowell first got involved in politics with the Fine Gael party. In 1985, he helped create a new party called the Progressive Democrats. He was one of the first members of this party to be elected to the Dáil in 1987.
He served as a TD for the Dublin South-East area at different times. He lost his seat in some elections but always came back. While in government, he was the main legal advisor as Attorney General of Ireland.
Minister for Justice
After the 2002 Irish general election, McDowell became the Minister for Justice. This was a very powerful role where he was in charge of the police, prisons, and laws about crime and equality. He was known for being a strong opponent of groups like Sinn Féin and the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
As minister, he made many changes:
- Garda Reform: He brought in big reforms for the Garda Síochána (the Irish police force). This included creating a new volunteer branch of the police.
- Citizenship Law: In 2004, he proposed a change to the constitution about who could automatically become an Irish citizen. The public voted in favour of this change.
- New Laws: He introduced a law that required phone and internet companies to keep records for three years. This was to help the Gardaí in their investigations. He also worked on new laws about what newspapers could publish.
Political Disagreements
As a minister, McDowell was often at the center of debates and disagreements.
- He had a major disagreement with the leaders of Sinn Féin, accusing them of being part of the IRA Army Council, which they denied.
- He sometimes made strong comments about other politicians and had to apologize. For example, he once made a comment about an opposition TD that he later said was wrong.
- His plans for new "café-bars" were dropped after objections from pub owners and other politicians.
- He also had public disagreements with judges over how to handle crime, which led to some judges protesting by not attending an event he hosted.
Party Leader and 2007 Election
In 2006, the leader of the Progressive Democrats, Mary Harney, resigned. McDowell was chosen as the new leader. This also made him the Tánaiste, or Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland.
He led his party into the 2007 Irish general election. The Progressive Democrats used posters with the slogan, "Left wing government? No thanks," to warn voters against a coalition of left-leaning parties. During the campaign, he had a famous public debate with John Gormley of the Green Party, which the media called the "Rumble in Ranelagh."
However, the election was a disaster for the Progressive Democrats. The party lost most of its seats, and McDowell himself lost his seat in Dublin South-East to John Gormley. He was the first-ever Tánaiste to lose their seat in an election. The day after the election, he resigned as party leader and announced he was leaving politics.
Return to Politics
After several years working as a lawyer, McDowell returned to politics in 2016. He ran for a seat in the Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Irish parliament, and won. He was elected to represent graduates of the National University of Ireland. He was re-elected in 2020 and again in 2025.
As a senator, he is known for being an independent voice. He famously opposed two changes to the Irish Constitution in 2024. These changes were about the definition of family and the role of care in the home. McDowell argued against them, and the public voted "No" by a large majority. Many people believe he was a key reason the government's proposals were defeated.
Legal Work and Views
When he is not in the Seanad, McDowell works as a senior counsel. He is one of Ireland's most well-known lawyers. He has represented many different clients, including the Irish music industry in a case about internet file sharing.
McDowell often shares his opinions by writing a weekly column in The Irish Times newspaper. In 2010, he suggested that The Twelfth of July, a holiday celebrated by Protestants in Northern Ireland, should also be a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland to promote understanding.
