Minister Pat Breen

Pat Breen TD – Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection

Minister Breen was appointed Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection on 20th June, 2017 having previously served as Minister for Employment and Small Business since the 19th May 2016.

The Minister was first elected to Dail Eireann in 2002 and he has successfully retained his seat in each subsequent Election, in 2007, 2011 and 2016.
In the last Dail, Minister Breen served as Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade from 22nd June 2011 to 3rd February 2016.

The Minister has also served as Chairman of the Dail Sub-Committee on Overseas development 2010-2011.
Prior to his Party being in Government, Minister Breen served in various portfolios for Fine Gael and was his Party’s Deputy Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs with responsibility for human rights and overseas development from 2007 to 2011.

Minister Breen was a member of the Council of Europe from 24th January 2005 to 24th January 2011 and Deputy Leader of the Irish Delegation. He was a member of key committees including monitor the obligations and commitments of members states, developing economic affairs and overseeing relations with non-member countries. Minister Breen was appointed Rapporteur by the Council of Europe on a report entitled “The European civil aviation industry confronted with the global financial and economic crisis”, which undertook an in-depth analysis of the effects that the global financial crisis had on the European Civil Aviation Industry.
Prior to Minister Breen’s election to Dail Eireann, he was a member of Clare County Council and the Vocational Educational Committee from June 1999 to 2002.