Charles Flanagan

Charles Matthew Flanagan (born 1 November 1956) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Justice and Equality since June 2017. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) since 1987, currently for the Laois constituency. He previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2014 to 2017, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs from May 2014 to July 2014 and Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from 2011 to 2014.

Flanagan was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election, succeeding his father Oliver J. Flanagan. He retained his seat at each election until losing it at the 2002 general election, but regained it at the 2007 general election. He was a member of Laois County Council from 1985 until he stepped down in 2004. He was party spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform from 2007 to 2010, and was the party spokesperson on Children from 2010 to 2011.

He was chairperson of the Fine Gael parliamentary party from June 2011 to May 2014.

Following the resignation on 7 May 2014 of Alan Shatter as Minister for Justice and Minister for Defence, Flanagan was appointed on 8 May as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to succeed Frances Fitzgerald who assumed the Justice portfolio. On 11 July 2014, Flanagan was appointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, succeeding the former Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.