Brian Lenihan
Brian Lenihan was an Irish politician who served as Minister for Finance during a tumultuous period in Ireland's economic history. Known for his sharp wit and ability to address controversial issues, he famously faced criticism for budget measures that impacted families, notably the cut to child allowances. His tenure was marked by significant financial challenges, and he was a key figure in navigating the country through the financial crisis.
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Recent news mentions
Brian Lenihan's political journey began at a byelection.
Expect to hear the phrase ‘Governments don’t win byelections’ a lot in the months ahead – The Irish Times
Ireland· 2026-03-04
Brian Lenihan was the minister for foreign affairs who Dorr advised regarding the gift to Thatcher.
‘To understand the Troubles, you must go back much further’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-11-16
Lenihan was dispatched by Haughey to lobby leading Irish-American politicians to oppose the agreement.
At the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, we sensed we were witnessing a historic event – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-11-15
Brian Lenihan jnr cried during an interview with Miriam O’Callaghan about the loss of his younger brother.
‘Receptiongate was the most stressful moment of my entire career’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-10-31
Brian Lenihan was a candidate in the 1990 presidential elections.
Jim Gavin’s name on the ballot paper raises troubling questions – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-10-17
Brian Lenihan was the Fianna Fáil candidate whose campaign was plunged into crisis during the 1990 presidential election.
Charles Haughey’s fate was sealed by the 1990 presidential election. Is Micheál Martin next? – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-10-11
Brian Lenihan is mentioned as someone Ann Finnegan used to canvass for.
‘I wasn’t going to vote for Jim Gavin – what would a footballer know?’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-10-10
Brian Lenihan, along with Kevin Boland, wrongly accused Prof McConkey of being 'a B-Special' and later had to apologize.
United Ireland more likely under a Heather Humphreys presidency, says leading Presbyterian – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-09-29
Brian Lenihan called Billy Fox a B-Special after he criticized the government for failing to prevent Border road closures.
‘Gotcha’ claims about Heather Humphreys’ husband have no place in modern Ireland – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-09-18
Brian Lenihan’s attempt at the presidency was derailed by the mature recollection of an incident involving Patrick Hillery.
Interest in Jim Gavin says little for Micheál Martin’s faith in his party colleagues – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-08-31
Brian Lenihan, then finance minister, approached Des Geraghty to join the board of the Central Bank.
‘The real problem in fascism is the people who are insecure’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-08-02
Mrs Robinson makes the baffling decision to skirt around rival candidate Brian Lenihan’s self-sabotage when he contradicted himself on television.
Ireland’s first woman president deserves better than this often plodding film – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-07-24
Then finance minister Brian Lenihan was so worried about Duffy’s potential to cause a run on the banks that he phoned RTÉ’s director-general Cathal Goan to complain.
From scammers to Normal People and banks to menopause, this was appointment radio – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-25
The late minister for finance Brian Lenihan set up the National Asset Management Agency (Nama) in 2009.
Nama chief makes good on Lenihan order not to ‘mess it up’ – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-12
Brian Lenihan became minister for finance at a time when the building boom had come to a halt.
After years of economic calm, Ireland could be facing a storm. Are we better prepared this time? – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-06-08
Brian Lenihan was caught out in a lie that damaged his campaign in 1990.
Parties’ selection of candidates for Presidential election becoming a late late show – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-05-27
Brian Lenihan showed mettle during the financial crisis.
The antidote to Trump’s tariff chaos is a clean and green trade agreement – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-04-15
Brian Lenihan was mentioned by John Kelly in 1980.
A history of Ireland in 25 Dáil insults – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-04-04
Brian Lenihan brought in a measure cutting child allowance for the third child in a family during the crash.
Most of the new football rules work well enough without allowing goalkeepers the run of the place – The Irish TimesIreland· 2025-02-14
