AMBASSADOR'S
CORNER
AMBASSADOR
JOHN BRUTON
Head of Delegation
Biographical
Note
John
Bruton is a former
Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), who helped
transform the Irish economy into the "Celtic
Tiger," one of the fastest growing economies in
the world. In the year before he took office
(1993) the Irish economy grew by 2.7%. During his
time as Taoiseach (1994-1997), the Irish economy
grew at an annual average rate of 8.7%, peaking at
11.1% in 1997. John Bruton was also deeply
involved in the Northern Irish Peace Process
leading to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
While Prime Minister, Ambassador Bruton presided
over a successful
Irish EU Presidency in
1996 and helped finalize the
Stability and Growth Pact, which governs the
management of the single European currency, the
Euro. Mr. Bruton addressed a joint session of
the US Congress on
September 11, 1996, as only the
30th head of state or government of an EU country
to do so since 1945. He was probably the only
President in office of the
European Council to have addressed a joint
session of Congress. Further, he represented the
EU at
Summit meetings with the President of the
United States and with the Prime Ministers of
Canada, Japan, China and Korea.
Before being appointed Ambassador to the United
States, John Bruton served as a leading member of
the Convention that resulted in the first-ever
draft
European Constitution, signed in
Rome on October 29, 2004, but which failed to be
ratified by France and the Netherlands. (A
Reform Treaty has since been promulgated.) He
was also Vice President of the European People's
Party (EPP) from 1999 to 2005.
Since taking up his position in Washington, John
Bruton has met with the President and former
Presidents of the United States, and
visited with governors, mayors, business
leaders and students in over 20 US states to
explain that the expanding European Union is good
for the US economy and good for American jobs. In
Washington, DC, Ambassador Bruton has met some 200
Members of Congress to explain major EU
developments and discuss the importance of the
EU-US relationship in matters of trade,
counterterrorism, public health, energy, the
environment and the promotion of peace, democracy
and human rights around the world.
John Bruton was first elected to the Irish
Parliament ("Dáil Éireann") in 1969 at the age of
22 as a member of the Fine Gael Party, becoming
Party Leader in 1990 and leading it into
government in 1994. He previously served as
Ireland’s Minister for Finance (1981-1982 and
1986-1987); Minister for Industry & Energy
(1982-1983); Minister for Trade, Commerce &
Tourism (1983-1986) and was Parliamentary
Secretary (Junior Minister) from 1973-1977.
As Minister for Finance, he overcame a major
budget deficit crisis for Ireland in 1981, and as
Minister for Industry he prepared and had enacted
into law the comprehensive industrial development
legislation which underpins Irish growth to this
day. He resigned his seat effective November 1,
2004 to take up his appointment as EU Commission
Head of Delegation in the United States.
John Bruton graduated from University College
Dublin with a Bachelor of Arts degree before
studying to become a barrister. He holds Honorary
Degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland
and the National University of Ireland. He is
married to Finola Bruton and has 4 children.
John
Bruton's letter, upon assuming his official
duties, to US President Bush;
News
Release.
Ambassador's Corner
