Jonathan O'Brien (born 28 December 1971) is an Irish former

Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( , ; en, " eOurselves") is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur G ...

politician who served as a

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament). It is the equivalent of terms such as ''Member of Parli ...

(TD) for the Cork North-Central constituency from 2011 to 2020.

Early life

O'Brien moved to Morecambe, Lancashire in the early 1970s, where he lived for ''"six or seven years."'' He played for Rockmount A.F.C and made the Cork Schoolboys team. He was a teammate of Roy Keane.

Political career and activities

He was a member of

Cork City Council Cork City Council ( ga, Comhairle Cathrach Chorcaí) is the authority responsible for local government in the city of Cork in Ireland. As a city council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Prior to the enactment of the 2001 Act, t ...

from 2000 to 2011. O'Brien also has a sporting background. He is a former board member and chairman of

Cork City Football Club Cork City Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Chathair Chorcaí) is an Irish association football club based in Cork. The club was founded and elected to the League of Ireland in 1984. It was one of the first clubs in Ireland (and the first in ...

, having been a founding member of the supporters' trust,

FORAS Foras or Forrasis, in demonology, is a powerful President of Hell, being obeyed by twenty-nine legions of demons. He teaches logic and ethics in all their branches, the virtues of all herbs and precious stones, can make a man witty, eloquent, invi ...

. He is also a member of St. Vincent's GAA Club. O'Brien was criticised by the Minister of Education

Ruairi Quinn Ruairi Quinn (born 2 April 1946) is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Education and Skills from 2011 to 2014, Leader of the Labour Party from 1997 to 2002, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1989 to 1997, ...

over his position on the Household Charge. O'Brien responded by saying he had been elected to implement just and fair laws, and described the household tax as being neither. He was the Sinn Féin Junior Spokesperson for Finance, and Public Expenditure and Reform. On 6 January 2020, he announced that he would not contest the next general election.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:OBrien, Jonathan 1971 births Living people Members of Cork City Council Members of the 31st Dáil Members of the 32nd Dáil Sinn Féin TDs (post-1923) Sinn Féin local councillors in the Republic of Ireland