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 |
| 27th 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 was born on 1 May 1951. He is an independent politician and a barrister from Ireland. A barrister is a type of lawyer who speaks in court. He has been involved in Irish politics since the 1980s. Today, he is a Senator for the National University area.
Michael McDowell is the grandson of Eoin MacNeill, an important Irish revolutionary. He went to Gonzaga College and studied law at University College Dublin and King's Inns. He started working as a barrister in 1974. Later, in 1987, he became a senior counsel, which is a more experienced lawyer.
He first joined the Fine Gael political party. In the mid-1980s, he helped start a new party called the Progressive Democrats. He was elected three times as a TD (a member of the Irish Parliament) for the Dublin South-East area. He served in the Dáil from 1987 to 1989, 1992 to 1997, and 2002 to 2007.
He also held important government roles. He was the Attorney General of Ireland from 1999 to 2002. Then, he became the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform from 2002 to 2007.
In 2006, Michael McDowell became the leader of the Progressive Democrats. He also became Tánaiste, which is like a deputy prime minister. He led his party in the 2007 general election. However, the party lost many seats, and he lost his own seat too. He then resigned as party leader and left politics for a while to go back to being a lawyer. The Progressive Democrats party officially closed down in 2009.
Michael McDowell returned to politics in 2016 as an independent politician. He was elected to Seanad Éireann (the Irish Senate) and was re-elected in 2020. He played a key role in opposing the constitutional referendums in March 2024, which were about changes to the definition of family and care. Both of these proposed changes were rejected by voters.
Contents
Early Life & Education
Michael McDowell was born in Dublin, Ireland. He went to a school called Gonzaga College, which is run by the Jesuits. After that, he studied at University College Dublin (UCD). While at UCD, he became the leader of the UCD Law Society.
In 1974, he earned his Barrister-at-Law degree from King's Inns in Dublin. This degree allowed him to work as a barrister. He became a Senior Counsel in 1987, which means he was recognized as a very experienced lawyer.
He is married to Niamh Brennan, who is a professor of accountancy at UCD. His brother, Moore McDowell, is an economics lecturer at UCD.
Political Journey
Michael McDowell first got involved in politics with the Fine Gael party. He ran for election in Dublin in 1979 but did not win a seat.
In 1985, a politician named Desmond O'Malley left the Fianna Fáil party. Michael McDowell supported O'Malley and helped him create a new party called the Progressive Democrats (often called the PDs).
Becoming a TD
In 1987, the Progressive Democrats took part in their first general election. Michael McDowell was one of 14 PDs elected as TDs. He represented the Dublin South-East area.
He lost his seat in the 1989 election but became the chairman of the party. He won his seat back in the 1992 election. However, he lost it again in the 1997 election.
During his time as a TD, he worked on different areas for the Progressive Democrats. He was a spokesperson for foreign affairs, Northern Ireland, and finance.
Attorney General and Minister for Justice
In July 1999, the Progressive Democrats were part of a coalition government with Fianna Fáil. Michael McDowell was appointed as the Attorney General of Ireland. This is the chief legal advisor to the government. He held this job until 2002.
After the 2002 Irish general election, Michael McDowell won his Dáil seat again. This time, his party also joined the government. He was appointed as the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
As Minister for Justice, he worked on many new laws and changes. He was known for being very strong against groups like Sinn Féin and the Provisional Irish Republican Army. He was even named "Politician of the Year" in 2004 by Magill magazine.
He introduced new laws about alcohol, like making it harder for young people to drink in pubs. He also suggested creating "café-bars" that would serve food and alcohol, but this idea was not approved.
In 2004, he proposed a referendum to change the rule about who gets Irish citizenship when born in Ireland. The change was approved by a large majority of voters. He also reformed the private security industry, making it more regulated.
He brought in major changes to the Garda Síochána (the Irish police force). He also introduced a law that made phone and internet companies store customer records for three years, which could be given to the Gardaí if needed. He also worked on reforms to defamation law, which deals with false statements that harm someone's reputation.
Party Leader and Tánaiste
In June 2006, there was some discussion about who would lead the Progressive Democrats. On 7 September 2006, Mary Harney resigned as party leader. Michael McDowell was then chosen to be the new leader.
On 11 September 2006, Michael McDowell was confirmed as the party leader. Two days later, on 13 September 2006, he was appointed Tánaiste.
2007 Election and Leaving Politics
During the 2007 Irish general election campaign, the Progressive Democrats used slogans like "Left wing government? No thanks." This was aimed at the Green Party. Michael McDowell had a well-known debate with John Gormley of the Green Party, which the media called the Rumble in Ranelagh.
Even though he was a high-profile leader and Tánaiste, Michael McDowell lost his seat in the election. He was the first Tánaiste to lose his seat while still in office. On 25 May 2007, he resigned as leader of the Progressive Democrats and announced he was leaving politics. He said his time as a public representative was over. The party also lost many of its seats.
Return to Politics: Seanad Éireann
In 2016, Michael McDowell decided to return to politics. He ran for election to Seanad Éireann (the Senate) for the National University area. He was elected and then re-elected in 2020.
2024 Constitutional Referendums
In 2024, Michael McDowell spoke out against two proposed amendments to the Constitution of Ireland. These changes were about expanding the definition of family and updating rules about care within the home.
Before the 2024 Irish constitutional referendums, McDowell helped form a group called "Lawyers for No." This group of barristers shared concerns about how the proposed changes might affect laws like family law and tax law. Even though major political parties supported the changes, both were rejected by a large number of voters. Many people believe Michael McDowell played a very important part in this outcome.
Legal Work and Views
After losing his Dáil seat in 2007, Michael McDowell went back to working as a senior counsel (an experienced lawyer). He also receives a pension, which he donates to charity.
He writes a weekly column for The Irish Times newspaper, sharing his opinions on current events.
Images for kids
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Badge of the Irish Defence Forces
