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Brian Lenihan Jnr, TD
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Incumbent
Assumed office  June 14, 2007
Preceded by	Michael McDowell
Born	29 May 1959 (1959-05-29) (age 48) Dublin Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Spouse	Patricia Ryan
Children	2 (1 boy, Thomas and 1 girl, Nameless)
Residence	Castlenock
Religion	Roman Catholic

Brian Lenihan Jnr. (Irish: Brian Ó Luineacháin; born 21 May 1959) is an Irish politician. He is currently a Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin West and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Brian Joseph Lenihan was born in Dublin in 1959. He was educated at Belvedere College and attended Trinity College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Lenihan subsequently received a law degree from Cambridge University before returning to King's Inns in Dublin where he trained as a barrister. He began lecturing in law at Trinity College in 1984, the same year that he was called to the bar. He became a senior counsel in 1997.

Lenihan is married to Patricia Ryan and they have two children – a boy and a girl.

Lenihan is a member of a famous Irish political dynasty. His father was Brian Lenihan, a former presidential candidate, Tánaiste and cabinet minister for over twenty-five years. His grandfather was Patrick Lenihan who followed his son into the Dáil from 1965 until 1970. Lenihan’s aunt is Mary O'Rourke, a TD for over twenty years and a former cabinet minister. His brother, Conor Lenihan, is also a TD and Minister of State. Brian Lenihan also has another brother, Paul Lenihan, who is currently practising law in France.

Lenihan first became involved in politics in 1996 when he was asked to stand in the Dublin West by-election caused by the death of his father. He was successful in getting elected, however, his victory over Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party was tighter than expected. Following his re-election in the 1997 general election Lenihan became chairman of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution. He served in this position until 2002, when he was appointed Minister of State (with special responsibility for Children). In 2005 the government created the new Office of the Minister for Children, with Lenihan becoming the very first Minister for Children. This office allows all those in government whose job it is to look after the interests of children to work under one aegis. As Minister for Children, Lenihan was allowed to attend cabinet meetings.

Following the 2007 general election Fianna Fáil were returned to power as part of a Rainbow Coalition with the Progressive Democrats and the Green Party. Lenihan was the only Fianna Fáil TD to be promoted to the cabinet, taking over the high profile Justice portfolio. Forty years previously, his father, also named Brian Lenihan, had held the same portfolio. He and his father are the only father-son pair to have held the Justice portfolio.

Lenihan is often named as a possible contender to succeed Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, though as of yet, he has made no public comment on the matter.

• Families in the Oireachtas
• Official Oireachtas database entry for Brian Lenihan (Jnr & Snr)