Charlie Flanagan was first elected to Leinster House in 1987. Since then he has served as minister for children and youth affairs, minister for foreign affairs and, most recently, Minister for Justice.
With an increase in gangland murders, drug feuds and Brexit-related tensions, Flanagan (63) has had a voluminous workload since he was appointed to the justice portfolio in June 2017.
Earlier this year Flanagan received public backlash over the RIC commemoration, which he instigated and was then later forced to postpone.
He is a native of Portlaoise. He has followed in the footsteps of his father, former minister for defence Oliver J Flanagan, in his commitment to the Fine Gael party.
Between 2011 and 2014 he served as chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party.
He has also been the party’s spokesman in a diverse range of portfolios throughout his career, including health and enterprise, trade and employment.
He is a qualified solicitor who graduated from UCD and the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
