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Dec 5, 2009
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Bruton, John

Bruton, John (brOO'tun) [key], 1947–, Irish politician, b. Dublin. A lawyer and farm owner, he is a member of the centrist Fine Gael party. Bruton was first elected to the Irish parliament in 1969 and during the 1970s served as a junior minister. In Fine Gael cabinets during the 1980s, he was minister for industry, trade, commerce, and tourism (1982–83) and finance minister (1981–82; 1986–87). He became party leader in 1990 and was subsequently prime minister (1994–97), heading a three-party left-right coalition. As prime minister, Bruton promoted peace in Northern Ireland. Firmly opposed to the IRA, he suggested that only a majority vote by Ulster could lead to its incorporation into Ireland. In 1995, Bruton successfully campaigned for constitutional changes allowing divorce in the Irish Republic. He lost his party leadership post in 2001.

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Bruton's Coming Of Age (Decision : Ireland's Business Review)

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny expressed sympathy yesterday to the Bruton family on the death of their father, Joe. (Irish Independent (Dublin, Republic of Ireland))

FINE GAEL deputy leader Richard Bruton admitted yesterday that he wants to succeed his brother John in leading the political party -- eventually. (Irish Independent (Dublin, Republic of Ireland))

BRIAN Cowen is being advised to appoint former Taoiseach John Bruton as the country's next European Commissioner to "keep Ireland at the centre of Europe". (Irish Independent (Dublin, Republic of Ireland))

Spring surprise? (John Bruton elected Ireland's prime minister) (National Review)

Former Taoiseach John Bruton (right) has written to senior members of President Barack Obama's administration on behalf of the European Commission objecting to so-called "Buy America" provisions in the country's $900bn stimulus package. (Irish Independent (Dublin, Republic of Ireland))

Former Taoiseach John Bruton has written to senior members of President Barack Obama's administration on behalf of the European Commission objecting to so-called "Buy America" provisions in the country's $900bn stimulus package. (Irish Independent (Dublin, Republic of Ireland))

Fine tuning: Ireland. (John Bruton gives ministry posts to different political party members) (The Economist (US))

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For founder Smith, prosperity begins with people.(News)(O. Bruton Smith of SoOnic Automotive Inc.) (Automotive News)

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