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Mr. 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. 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. 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 caucus that drafted the first-ever European Constitution that was signed in Rome on October 29, 2004. He was Vice President of the European People's Party from 1999 to 2005.
He 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 & 1986-1987); Minister for Industry & Energy (1982-1983); Minister for Trade, Commerce & Tourism (1983-1986). He resigned his seat effective November 1, 2004, to take up appointment as EU 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.