David Byrne (Irish politician)

Early life and career

Byrne was born in Monasterevin, County Kildare. He was educated at Newbridge College, County Kildare, University College Dublin, and King's Inns, Dublin. He was called to the Bar in 1970, and practiced law in the Irish and European Courts. During his student days in Dublin, he founded the Free Legal Advice Centre, a student-run organisation providing legal aid to citizens in association with the legal profession. He campaigned in favour of Irish entry into the European Community in the 1970s, and has been a keen supporter of European integration ever since.

Byrne became a Senior Counsel in 1985. He practised in both the Irish courts and the European Court of Justice, and also served as a member of the International Court of Commercial Arbitration from 1990–1997.

In 1997, Byrne became Attorney General to the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition government. As one of the negotiators of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998, he drafted and oversaw the major constitutional amendments required by that agreement, which were approved by Referendum in May 1998. Byrne also advised on the constitutional amendments necessary for Ireland's ratification of the Amsterdam Treaty. During his tenure, he established the first independent Food Safety Agency in Europe responsible to the Minister of Health.

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection

Byrne was nominated to the European Commission by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in September 1999, serving as Ireland's EU Commissioner, and had responsibility for Health & Consumer Protection in the Prodi Commission. He continued in that role until replaced as Ireland's Commissioner by Charlie McCreevy in 2004.

During his time in office, Byrne was a major driving force behind European tobacco control legislation, such as directives banning tobacco advertising and regulating tobacco products, in keeping with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Under his leadership, the European Union also created the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in 2004.

World Health Organization

When he concluded his Brussels assignment, Byrne acted as WHO Special Envoy on the revision of the International Health Regulations for a six-month period following a series of outbreaks of SARS and avian influenza.

Byrne was mooted as a potential candidate for the position of Director General of the World Health Organization following the death of the incumbent, Dr Lee Jong-wook in 2006. However, he was eventually not included in the list of 13 candidates to head the agency.

Life after politics

After leaving the European Commission, Byrne has held a variety of paid and unpaid positions, including the following: