Broughan bows out
Dublin People 24 Jan 2020
THE spate of retirements among some of North Dublin’s highest profile politicians continued last week when Independent TD Tommy Broughan announced he would not be contesting the general election next month.
Mr Broughan, a long-time public representative for the constituency of Dublin Bay North (previously Dublin North East), said it was a “very difficult” decision to make after being a public representative for three decades.
Mr Broughan was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1992 as a Labour Deputy, became an Independent in 2011 and successfully contested the 2016 General Election in what was regarded as one of the most competitive constituencies in the country.
During the 32nd Dáil, he was a member of the Independents4Change Technical Group which was made up of like-minded Independent Deputies from around the country – Thomas Pringle, Joan Collins, Catherine Connolly, Maureen O’Sullivan and recently elected MEPs, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace.
Mr Broughan introduced a number of Private Members’ Bills during the 32nd Dáil and indeed during his political career, most recently the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2019.
His priorities always included Housing, Health, Disability Rights, Road Safety, Crime and Justice, Education and Local Government.
Throughout his career Mr Broughan was a vocal and committed supporter of the Stardust Relatives and Victims’ Committee, as well as Sustainable Planning of Dublin Bay North and Animal Welfare.
As a member of the Budgetary Oversight Committee, he has always been a strong voice for real people in fiscal and economic matters, scrutinising the spending of public monies and calling for realistic budgets for health, justice and education in particular.
Almost 20 years ago, he introduced the first Trade Union Recognition Bill into Dáil Éireann and was a spokesperson over the years on Finance, Enterprise and Employment, Transport, Communications, Energy and the Marine.
Mr Broughan told Northside People: “I’d like to sincerely thank all my friends and my constituents of Dublin Bay North (and Dublin North East) for their support over the years.
“After lengthy discussions with my family, staff and long deliberations, I decided not to contest the upcoming general election.
“It was a very difficult decision since I have been a public representative for almost 29 years.”
Mr Broughan added: “I wish my former Technical Group colleagues, Catherine Connolly, Joan Collins and Thomas Pringle all the very best on February 8 next.”
Mr Broughan’s announcement follows the earlier decision of Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North), Maureen O’Sullivan (Ind) and Brendan Ryan (Lab) not to contest the election, which will lead to a lot of new faces in Northside constituencies when the 33rd Dáil is formed.