Mairead McGuinness

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Mairead McGuinness (born June 13, 1959 in Ardee) is an Irish politician and Member of the European Parliament for Ireland East. She is a member of Fine Gael, part of the European People's Party.

Máiread McGuinness was the first female graduate of University College, Dublin's degree in Agricultural economics and had a career in a number of media outlets before entering politics in 2004. She worked as a researcher on The Late Late Show, as a presenter on RTÉ's Ear to the Ground and Celebrity Farm, a journalist with the Irish Farmer's Journal and editor of the farming supplement to the Irish Independent.

In early 2004 she declared her intention to seek a nomination for the European Parliament election for Fine Gael. This followed speculation linking her to a similar move for the Progressive Democrats. At the selection convention in February 2004, she was selected to run alongside Avril Doyle. This proved highly controversial, as it was widely expected that Fine Gael could win only one of the three seats on offer in the East Ireland Constituency. However, a stronger than expected performance from Fine Gael in the election, saw both women being elected.

McGuinness has been appointed to serve on many of the European Parliament's committees:

• Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
• Budget Committee
• Petitions Committee
• Delegation to the EU-Romania Joint Parliamentary Committee

[edit] External links

• maireadmcguinness.ie
• MEP profile
• Meath on Track - Navan railway campaign