Joe O'Brien (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Joe O'Brien TD, 2019.jpg

| caption = O'Brien in 2020

| office = Minister of State

| suboffice = Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

| subterm = 2022–2025

| suboffice1 = Social Protection

| subterm1 = 2020–2025

| suboffice2 = Rural and Community Development

| subterm2 = 2020–2025

| office3 = Teachta Dála

| term_start3 = November 2019

| term_end3 = November 2024

| constituency3 = Dublin Fingal

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|42|2019|12|1|slash=y}}

| birth_place = Cork, Ireland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = Irish

| party = Green Party

| spouse =

| children = 3

| education = North Monastery

| alma_mater = University College Cork

| website = {{URL|joefingalgreen.com}}

|}}

Joe O'Brien (born 1976/1977) is an Irish Green Party politician who served as a Minister of State from July 2020 to January 2025. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Fingal constituency from 2019 to 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Joe-O'Brien.D.2019-11-29/|title=Joe O'Brien|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=5 December 2019|archive-date=4 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204113121/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Joe-O'Brien.D.2019-11-29/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/1130/1096083-by-election-results/|title=SF, FF and Greens clinch Dáil seats with count complete|work=RTÉ News|date=30 November 2019|access-date=30 November 2019|archive-date=30 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130183910/https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/1130/1096083-by-election-results/|url-status=live}}

Background

O'Brien was born in Cork and grew up in Grenagh, County Cork.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/who-is-new-green-party-td-joe-o-brien-1.4101216|newspaper=The Irish Times|title =Who is new Green Party TD Joe O'Brien?|date=1 December 2019|access-date=3 December 2019|archive-date=2 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202105436/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/who-is-new-green-party-td-joe-o-brien-1.4101216|url-status=live}} He attended the North Monastery secondary school. O'Brien graduated from University College Cork with a degree in French and Economics. After his studies, he moved to Dublin, where he became an advocate for inclusion and migrant rights. He has worked for the Immigrant Council of Ireland as well as Crosscare, which is one of the largest providers of services to the homeless in Dublin city. O'Brien lives in Skerries with his wife and three children.{{Cite web|title=Joe O'Brien|url=https://www.gov.ie/en/biography/721dc-joe-obrien/|date=23 February 2022|access-date=2 November 2022|website=www.gov.ie|language=en}}

As an observer with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), an international programme coordinated by the World Council of Churches, O'Brien worked in the Bethlehem area for three months in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_foreign_affairs_and_trade/2012-09-19/3/|website=Oireachtas.ie|title=Joint Committee On Foreign Affairs And Trade - Debate|access-date=3 September 2020|date=19 September 2012|quote="I was placed in the Bethlehem area for three months in 2009 [..] Observers are deployed to offer protection through non-violent presence, monitor and report violations of human rights and international humanitarian law [..] We also ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to initiate cross-departmental measures to start us off on the path towards getting illegal settlement products off the Irish market."|archive-date=15 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515023447/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_foreign_affairs_and_trade/2012-09-19/3/|url-status=live }} In this role, he monitored checkpoints of the Israeli Defence Forces and supported local Palestinian and Israeli peace groups.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/localnotes/palestinian-human-rights-trip-for-skerries-man-joe-27792328|website=independent.ie|title=Palestinian human rights trip for Skerries man Joe|access-date=3 September 2020|date=19 September 2012|quote="The observers will carry out duties such as monitoring Israeli army checkpoints that Palestinians need to pass through [..and..] supporting local Palestinian and Israeli peace groups "}} In a submission to the Oireachtas Joint Committee On Foreign Affairs And Trade in 2012, he set out the EAPPI's position in advocating a ban on the sale of Israeli products produced in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

In January 2016 he acted as a whistleblower on the apparent under-reporting of homelessness figures.{{Cite web|last=Clifford|first=Mick|date=14 January 2016|title=Whistleblower fought tooth and nail to reveal 'under-reporting' of homelessness issue|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/arid-20376015.html|access-date=3 November 2022|website=Irish Examiner|language=en}} A report compiled by O'Brien suggested the actual level of homelessness may have been more than 50% greater than the official figures.{{Cite web|last=Clifford|first=Mick|date=14 January 2016|title=Homeless figures are deliberately being under-reported claims Whistleblower|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20376092.html|access-date=3 November 2022|website=Irish Examiner|language=en}}

Political career

O'Brien was a member of Fingal County Council from May 2019 to November 2019, representing the Balbriggan local electoral area.{{cite web|url=https://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=10665|title=Joe O'Brien|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=11 March 2025}}{{Cite news|last=O'Halloran|first=Marie|title=Fingal County Council results: Greens gain three seats as 20-year-old student is elected|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fingal-county-council-results-greens-gain-three-seats-as-20-year-old-student-is-elected-1.3890429|access-date=11 January 2021|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118003948/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fingal-county-council-results-greens-gain-three-seats-as-20-year-old-student-is-elected-1.3890429|url-status=live}}

He was elected to the Dáil in a by-election in November 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dublin-fingal-joe-o-brien-wins-green-party-s-first-ever-byelection-1.4100811|title=Dublin Fingal: Joe O'Brien wins Green Party's first ever byelection|date=30 November 2019|first=Fiach|last=Kelly|newspaper=Irish Times|location=Dublin|access-date=5 June 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605232455/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dublin-fingal-joe-o-brien-wins-green-party-s-first-ever-byelection-1.4100811|archive-date=5 June 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/elections/dublin-fingal-byelection|title=Dublin Fingal|date=30 November 2019|newspaper=Irish Times|location=Dublin|access-date=5 June 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210605232832/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/elections/dublin-fingal-byelection|archive-date=5 June 2021}} In December 2019, he won a discrimination case at the Workplace Relations Commission against Irish Rail over its failure to maintain working lifts at train stations in Balbriggan and Skerries.{{Cite news|last=Coyle|first=Colin|title=Green TD Joe O'Brien wins discrimination case over Irish Rail's broken lifts|newspaper=The Times|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/green-td-joe-o-brien-wins-discrimination-case-over-irish-rails-broken-lifts-d7gz2lnzk|access-date=3 November 2022|issn=0140-0460}}

He retained his seat in the 2020 general election.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dublin-fingal-results-sf-wave-results-in-high-profile-fine-gael-casualty-1.4165193|title=Dublin Fingal results: SF wave results in high-profile Fine Gael casualty|date=10 February 2020|orig-date=9 February 2020|first=Martin|last=Wall|newspaper=Irish Times|location=Dublin|access-date=5 June 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210606005303/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dublin-fingal-results-sf-wave-results-in-high-profile-fine-gael-casualty-1.4165193|archive-date=6 June 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/election2020/dublin-fingal|title=Election 2020: Dublin Fingal|date=10 February 2020|newspaper=Irish Times|location=Dublin|access-date=5 June 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210606005330/https://www.irishtimes.com/election2020/dublin-fingal|archive-date=6 June 2021}} During the 2020 election campaign, O'Brien was listed (among other candidates) as a supporter of the Oireachtas Committee on Health's recommendations to address foetal anti-convulsant syndrome,{{cite web|url=https://www.epilepsy.ie/content/ge2020-candidates-who-have-pledged-work-epilepsy-issues|publisher=Epilepsy Ireland|website=epilepsy.ie|title=#GE2020 - Candidates who have pledged to work on Epilepsy issues|date=7 February 2020|access-date=6 September 2020|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922223636/https://www.epilepsy.ie/content/ge2020-candidates-who-have-pledged-work-epilepsy-issues|url-status=live }} of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign's proposal to prohibit the import of goods from "illegal settlements in Palestine" and to the right to free speech and non-violent activism,{{cite web|url=https://www.ipsc.ie/elections/palestinepledges-for-ge20-make-palestine-an-election-issue|publisher=Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign|website=ipsc.ie|title=Let's make Palestine an election issue: #PalestinePledges for #GE2020|date=20 January 2020|access-date=6 September 2020|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807183037/https://www.ipsc.ie/elections/palestinepledges-for-ge20-make-palestine-an-election-issue|url-status=live }} and of The Wheel's "Stronger Communities, Stronger Ireland" manifesto for charities and voluntary organisations.{{cite web|url=https://www.wheel.ie/policy-and-research/campaigns/stronger-communities/candidates-who-have-signed-our-manifesto-pledge|publisher=The Wheel|website=wheel.ie|title=Candidates who have signed our manifesto pledge|date=21 January 2020|access-date=6 September 2020|archive-date=20 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120123109/https://www.wheel.ie/policy-and-research/campaigns/stronger-communities/candidates-who-have-signed-our-manifesto-pledge|url-status=live}}

In June 2020, during a speech in the Dáil, he stated that some politicians had used racism to get elected in Ireland.{{Cite web|last=Doyle|first=Maggie|date=17 June 2020|title=Some TDs 'used racism' to get elected - O'Brien|website=RTÉ.ie|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0617/1147944-racism-ireland/|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Some TDs used racism to get elected - Green deputy tells the Dáil|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/some-tds-used-racism-to-get-elected-green-deputy-tells-the-dail-39295046.html|access-date=3 November 2022|website=independent|date=18 June 2020|language=en}}{{Cite news|title=Dáil hears claims TDs used racism to get elected|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dail-hears-claims-tds-used-racism-to-get-elected-1.4281416|access-date=3 November 2022|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

Following the formation of a coalition government in late June 2020, O'Brien was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and at the Department of Social Protection with special responsibility for Community Development and Charities.{{cite journal|journal=Iris Oifigiúil|title=Appointment of Ministers of State|url=https://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2020/july/Ir170720.pdf|pages=820–821|volume=2020|issue=57|date=17 June 2017|access-date=2 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2020-07-07/3/|title=Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Vol. 994 No. 5|date=7 July 2020|access-date=7 July 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=9 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709181211/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2020-07-07/3/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/explainer-who-are-the-new-junior-ministers-and-what-jobs-did-they-get-39333542.html|publisher=Independent News & Media|website=independent.ie|title=Explainer: Who are the new junior ministers and what jobs did they get?|date=1 July 2020|access-date=1 July 2020|archive-date=1 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701225839/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/explainer-who-are-the-new-junior-ministers-and-what-jobs-did-they-get-39333542.html|url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/these-are-the-17-new-junior-ministers-completing-the-government-1008737.html|publisher=Irish Examiner|website=irishexaminer.com|title=These are the 17 new junior ministers completing the government|date=1 July 2020|access-date=1 July 2020|archive-date=2 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702053507/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/these-are-the-17-new-junior-ministers-completing-the-government-1008737.html|url-status=live }}

In July 2020, O'Brien abstained from voting for the Government's Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill, and was sanctioned by Green Party leader Eamon Ryan by having his speaking rights withdrawn for two months.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/greens-shaken-as-joe-o-brien-abstains-and-hourigan-votes-against-government-1.4317979%3fmode=amp|title=Greens shaken as Joe O'Brien abstains and Hourigan votes against Government|publisher=The Irish Times|first1=Jennifer|last1=Bray|first2=Harry|last2=McGee|date=30 July 2020|access-date=31 July 2020|archive-date=19 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819050755/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/greens-shaken-as-joe-o-brien-abstains-and-hourigan-votes-against-government-1.4317979?mode=amp|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2020/0731/1156610-green-party-politics/|title=Green Party sanctions O'Brien, Hourigan over Dáil vote|publisher=RTÉ News and Current Affairs|date=31 July 2020|access-date=31 July 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731081348/https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2020/0731/1156610-green-party-politics/|url-status=live}}

During 2021 and 2022, he called for a €50 increase in core social welfare payments and a €10 increase in weekly social welfare payments.{{Cite web|title=Green minister pushes €50 social welfare increase|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/green-minister-pushes-50-social-welfare-increase-40298856.html|access-date=18 January 2023|website=independent|date=11 April 2021|language=en}}{{Cite news|title=Minister has not had pushback on call for 'double digit' increases to welfare payments|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2022/07/12/minister-has-not-had-pushback-on-call-for-double-digit-increases-to-welfare-payments/|access-date=18 January 2023|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

In December 2022, he was re-appointed to the same position, as well as Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with special responsibility for Integration following the appointment of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/dd77e-minister-of-state-appointments/|title=Minister of State appointments|publisher=Department of the Taoiseach|website=gov.ie|date=21 December 2022|access-date=21 December 2022}}

In January 2024, he stated that Ireland should join the South Africa v. Israel (Genocide Convention) case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ),{{Cite journal|last=Lehane|first=Mícheál|date=23 January 2024|title=Govt to 'strongly consider' intervening in ICJ case|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0123/1428075-ireland-israel/|journal=RTÉ.ie|language=en}} and in March 2024 he called for UNRWA funding to be reinstated by countries who had paused funding and suggested that Israel would only respond to international demands on international law if there was an economic consequence.{{Cite web|title=Suspending EU-Israel trade deal may be only way to end Gaza war in Gaza, junior minister says|url=https://www.businesspost.ie/article/suspending-eu-israel-trade-deal-may-be-only-way-to-end-gaza-war-in-gaza-junior-minister-says/|access-date=15 March 2024|website=www.businesspost.ie|language=en}}

He lost his seat at the 2024 general election.