Vincent Brady

Vincent Brady (born 14 March 1936) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician.^[1] He served under Taoiseach Charles Haughey as Government Chief Whip (1987–1991) and Minister for Defence (1991–1992).

Vincent Brady was born in Dublin in 1936. He was educated at St Canices CBS and O'Connells CBS North Richmond Street (Congregation of Christian Brothers School) in Dublin and the College of Commerce in Rathmines. He was a company director of a Machinery Distribution Company which he founded in 1970 before embarking on a career in politics. Brady was first elected to Dáil Éireann at his first attempt at the 1977 general election for the Dublin North–Central constituency.^[2] Two years later he became involved in local politics when he was elected to Dublin City Council. He was re-elected to the Council in 1985 having topped the poll in Dublin Clontarf receiving the highest vote in the country. In 1979 Fianna Fáil faced its first leadership election since 1966. It was a straight choice between Charles Haughey and George Colley. Brady backed Haughey, his constituency colleague and eventual winner. He continued to back Haughey during the three heaves against him in the early 1980s. During the early 1980s he was a member of the Council of Europe.

In 1984 Brady joined the front bench of the party as Chief Whip. In 1987 Fianna Fáil were back in power and Brady was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and Defence, the Government Chief Whip. He served in that position until November 1991, when he joined the cabinet as Minister for Defence. He remained in that position until February 1992 when Albert Reynolds became Taoiseach and sacked Brady along with many other senior ministers who had served under Haughey. Brady retired from politics at the 1992 general election. Following his retirement from politics he concentrated on continued development of his Distribution business.

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