The former ceann comhairle and defence minister Seán Barrett has died at the age of 81. Mr Barrett served as a TD for Dún Laoghaire from 1981 to 2002, retiring at that year's general election. He said that he had “always got on well” with Mr Barrett, someone he found to be “a thorough gentleman”. "In 2011, Seán was elected ceann comhairle of Dáil Éireann. "In his role as ceann comhairle, he exuded fairness, authority, and a firm but measured approach in the chair.

Source: Irish Examiner April 07, 2026 05:18 UTC