Michael McDowell

Mr. Michael McDowell was appointed Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Coalition Government formed in June 2002. He served as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform until June 2007, and as Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) from September 2006 to June 2007.
He chaired the Working Group in Company Law Enforcement and Compliance which reported in 1998 and the Financial Services Advisory Group which reported in 1999. In July 1999 he was appointed Attorney General of Ireland and served in that post until June 2002, when on the formation of the new Government he was appointed Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

He was educated at Gonzaga College, Dublin, from 1959 – 1968.

He graduated in Economics and Politics from the National University of Ireland at University College Dublin, qualified as a barrister in 1974 and was called to the Inner Bar in 1987. He practises as a Senior Counsel in the Law Library, Dublin.

He was elected as an independent member to Seanad Éireann, the Irish Senate, by the graduates of the National University of Ireland in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, where he is a member of the Justice Committee, the Committee on European Affairs, and the Committee on Procedure and Privilege.