Peter Barry

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**Peter Barry**
Tánaiste
Periods in office: 20 January 1987 – 10 March 1987
Predecessor(s)	Dick Spring
Successor(s)	Brian Lenihan
Born	10 August 1928 Cork, Ireland
Political party	Fine Gael

Peter Barry (Irish: Peadar de Barra; born August 10, 1928) is a retired Irish Fine Gael politician and businessman. As Minister for Foreign Affairs he helped negotiate the Anglo-Irish Agreement and served for a short time as Tánaiste (deputy prime minister).

Peter Barry was born on 10 August 1928 in Cork City. He was the son of Anthony Barry, a Fine Gael TD and well-known businessman. Barry was educated in Cork and then became the major shareholder in the family company - Barry's Tea. Peter Barry was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. When Fine Gael came to power in 1973 he was appointed Minister for Transport and Power. In 1976 he became Minister for Education. In 1979, when Dr Garret FitzGerald became leader, Barry was elected deputy leader of the Fine Gael party. From 1981 to March 1982 he served as Minister for the Environment.

Between December 1982 and 1987 he was the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In his capacity as Foreign Minister he was heavily involved in the negotiations which resulted in the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement. He also became the first joint chairman of the Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference which was established by the Irish and British governments. Following the Labour Party's withdrawal from the coalition government in 1987 Barry became Tánaiste for a brief period. In that year Barry, along with Alan Dukes and John Bruton contested the leadership of Fine Gael. Dukes was the eventual victor.

He retired at the Irish general election, 1997 and his seat was taken by his daughter, Deirdre Clune.

[edit] Political career

Political offices
Preceded by Michael O'Kennedy	Minister for Transport & Power 1973–1976	Succeeded by Tom Fitzpatrick
Preceded by Richard Burke	Minister for Education 1976–1977	Succeeded by John P. Wilson
Preceded by Ray Burke	Minister for the Environment 1981–1982	Succeeded by Ray Burke
Preceded by Gerard Collins	Minister for Foreign Affairs 1982–1987	Succeeded by Brian Lenihan
Preceded by Dick Spring	Tánaiste 1987	Succeeded by Brian Lenihan

Deputy Prime Ministers of Ireland Tánaistí na hÉireann
Seán T. O'Kelly • Seán Lemass • William Norton • Seán MacEntee • Frank Aiken • Erskine H. Childers • Brendan Corish • George Colley • Michael O'Leary • Ray MacSharry • Dick Spring • Peter Barry • Brian Lenihan • John P. Wilson • Bertie Ahern • Mary Harney • Michael McDowell

Vice-Presidents of the Executive Council Kevin O'Higgins • Ernest Blythe • Seán T. O'Kelly