Mary Hanafin

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Mary Hanafin (Irish: Máire Ní Ainifín; born June, 1959) is an Irish politician. She is currently a Fianna Fáil TD for Dún Laoghaire and Minister for Education & Science.

Mary Hanafin was born in Thurles, County Tipperary in June 1959. She was educated at Presentation Convent, Thurles, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and Dublin Institute of Technology [1] Hanafin worked as a secondary school teacher before she became involved in politics. In 1980 she became a member of the Fianna Fáil National Executive and in 1985 she was elected to Dublin City Council. Hanafin was unsuccessful in her bid to be elected to Dáil Éireann in 1989. In 1993 she was appointed National Treasurer of the Fianna Fáil Party.

Hanafin was elected to Dáil Éireann for the first time as a Fianna Fáil TD in the 1997 General Election. In January 2000 she was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Children at the Departments of Health & Children; Justice, Equality & Law Reform; and Education & Science. In 2002 she was re-elected, topping the poll in the Dún Laoighaire area constituency. She was subsequently appointed Minister of State at the Departments of An Taoiseach and Defence. She is currently the Minister for Education & Science.

Hanafin is a former President of the NYCI (National Youth Council of Ireland). She is the daughter of a long-time Fianna Fáil Senator, Des Hanafin and a sister of Senator John Gerard Hanafin. [2] Since her appointment to the Education & Science portfolio, she has cultivated good relations[citation needed] with the teacher trade unions, following a difficult period evident[citation needed] during the incumbancy of her predecessor, Noel Dempsey. However, she has abandoned the compilation of school league tables, Let parents make informed decisions which her predecessor was investigating.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Where she received a diploma in legal studies.
  2. ^ Her husband Eamom Leahy, Senior Councel, died suddenly in 2003.

[edit] Political career

Oireachtas
Preceded by:
Niamh Bhreathnach
(Labour)		 Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for
Dún Laoghaire
1997–		 Succeeded by:
Current Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by:
Frank Fahey		 Minister of State (with special responsibility for Children)
2000–2002		 Succeeded by:
Brian Lenihan, Jr
Preceded by:
Séamus Brennan		 Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
2002-2004		 Succeeded by:
Tom Kitt
Minister of State at the Department of Defence
2002-2004
Preceded by:
Noel Dempsey		 Minister for Education & Science
2004–		 Succeeded by:
Current Incumbent

[edit] External links

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database

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