











|

 

 

 

 

 

 
|

FORMER WOMEN TDs FIRST ELECTED 1970-97
Máire
Geoghegan-Quinn
|
Date of Birth
|
5 September
1950 (née
Geoghegan)
|
Family
|
daughter of
TD; married, two children
|
Education
|
Carysfort
Teachers' Training College, Blackrock
|
Early career
|
teacher
|
Years in parliament
|
1975-97 (ret.)
|
Party
|
Fianna Fáil
|
Constituency
|
Galway West
|
Offices held
|
Parliamentary
Secretary to Minister for Industry, Commerce, & Energy (1977-78);
Minister of State, Department of Industry, Commerce, & Energy
(with special responsibility for Consumer Affairs) 1978-79;
Minister for the Gaeltacht (1979-81); Minister of State, Department
of the Taoiseach, (with special responsibility as co-ordinator of
Government Policy and EC matters) 1987-91; Minister for Tourism,
Transport & Communications (1992-93); Minister for Justice (1993-94);
Minister for Equality & Law Reform (1994)
|
Committees
|
Women's
Rights (chair, 1983); Marital Breakdown (1983), Social Affairs (1995)
|
Other public
offices
|
Fianna Fáil
Party Chairman; Galway City Council (1985-91)
|
Return
to top.
Catherine (Kit) Ahern
|
Date of Birth
|
13
January 1915
|
Family
|
married
|
Education
|
College
of Art, Dublin
|
Early career
|
teacher
|
Early political
experience
|
Kerry
County Council (1967; Cathaoirleach, 1977-78); contested Kerry North
(1965, 1969, 1973)
|
Years in Dáil
|
1977-81 (def.)
|
Party
|
Fianna Fáil
|
Constituency
|
Kerry North
|
Other public
offices
|
President,
Irish Countrywomen's Association (1961-64); President, Kerry Historical
& Archaeological Society.
|
Return
to top.
Eileen Lemass
|
Date of Birth
|
July 1932 (née
Delaney)
|
Family
|
husband and
father in law TDs, children
|
Education
|
National College
of Art, Grafton Academy of Dress Designing, Abbey School of Acting
|
Early political
experience
|
Dublin City
Council (1974), contested Dublin South West (1976)
|
Years in Dáil
|
Dáil: 1977-82
(def.), 1982-87 (ret.); European Parliament: 1984-89
|
Party
|
Fianna Fáil
|
Constituency
|
Dáil: Dublin
Ballyfermot, Dublin West (1981-); European Parliament: Dublin
|
Committees
|
Procedure & Privileges (1977); Women's Rights
(1983-84)
|
Return
to top.
Myra Barry
|
Date of Birth
|
June 1957
|
Family
|
daughter of TD
|
Education
|
St Patrick's Teacher Training College, Dublin
|
Early career
|
teacher
|
Years in Dáil
|
1979-87 (ret.)
|
Party
|
Fine Gael
|
Constituency
|
Cork North East, Cork East (1981-)
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Youth Affairs (1980-82)
|
Offices held
|
Women's Rights (1983), Marriage Breakdown (1983)
|
Return
to top.
Carrie Acheson
|
Date of Birth
|
September
1934 (née
Barlow)
|
Family
|
sister
of senator; married, one son
|
Education
|
London
School of Business Studies
|
Early career
|
company
director
|
Early political
experience
|
Tipperary
(SR) County Council (1974); Clonmel
Borough Council, Mayor of Clonmel (1981-81)
|
Years in Dáil
|
1981-Feb. 1982
(def.)
|
Party
|
Fianna Fáil
|
Constituency
|
Tipperary South
|
Return
to top.
Nuala Fennell
|
Date of Birth
|
November 1935
(née Campbell)
|
Family
|
married, three
children
|
Education
|
Dominican College,
Dublin
|
Early career
|
journalist,
author
|
Early political
experience
|
contested Dublin
South as independent (1977); contested Dublin in 1979 European election
|
Years in Dáil
|
1981-87 (def.),
1989-92 (ret.)
|
Party
|
Fine Gael
|
Constituency
|
Dublin South
|
Offices held
|
Minister of
State, Departments of the Taoiseach and Justice, with responsibility
for Women's Affairs & Family Law Reform (1982-87)
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Health (1989-92)
|
Committees
|
Women's Rights
(1987-89, 1989-92)
|
Other public
activities
|
Founder, AIM
(family law reform organisation, 1972), ADAPT (for deserted wives,
1973)
|
Return
to top.
Mary Flaherty
|
Date of Birth
|
May
1953
|
Family
|
married,
four children
|
Education
|
University
College Dublin
|
Early career
|
teacher
|
Early political
experience
|
Dublin
City Council (1979)
|
Years in Dáil
|
1981-97 (def.)
|
Party
|
Fine Gael
|
Constituency
|
Dublin North
West
|
Offices held
|
Minister
of State, Department of Social Welfare Health (1981-82)
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Health
(1987), Overseas Development (1988), Social Welfare (1989-90), Energy
(1990-93), Labour Affairs (1993)
|
Committees
|
Legislation
(1983); Crime, Lawlessness & Vandalism (1983); Social Affairs
(1993)
|
Return
to top.
Alice Glenn
|
Date of Birth
|
17 December
1927
|
Family
|
married, two
children
|
Education
|
Haslem School
of Dress Designing
|
Early career
|
dress designer
|
Early political
experience
|
Dublin City
Council (1974); contested (1973, 1977)
|
Years in parliament
|
1981-82 (def.),
1982-87 (ret.)
|
Party
|
Fine Gael
|
Constituency
|
Dublin Central
|
Other public
offices
|
Fine Gael National
Executive
|
Return
to top.
Nora Owen
|
Date of Birth
|
June 1945 (née
O'Mahony)
|
Family
|
grandneice of
Michael Collins, sister of Mary Banotti MEP; married, three sons
|
Education
|
University College
Dublin
|
Early career
|
chemist
|
Early political
experience
|
Dublin County
Council (1979-?? )
|
Years in Dáil
|
1981-87 (def.),
1989-2002 (def.)
|
Party
|
Fine Gael
|
Constituency
|
Dublin North
|
Offices held
|
Minister of
Justice (1994-97)
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Overseas development
(1992), Foreign Affairs (1989-92, 1993-94), Health (1992-93), Deputy
Leader of Fine Gael (1993-2001), Quality of life & Family Affairs
(2000-01), Aviation & Tourism (2001-date)
|
Other public
offices
|
Fingal County
Council (1993-??)
|
Return
to top.
Gemma Hussey
|
Date of Birth
|
November 1938
(née Moran)
|
Family
|
married, three
children
|
Education
|
University College
Dublin
|
Years in
|
Dáil: Feb.
1982-89 (def.); Seanad: 1977-82
|
Party
|
Fine Gael (Independent
senator 1977-80)
|
Constituency/Panel
|
Dáil: Wicklow
Seanad: National University of Ireland
|
Offices held
|
Government Leader
of the Seanad (1981-82), Minister of Education (1982-86), Minister
for Social Welfare (1986-87), Minister for Health (1987)
|
Opposition
portfolios
|
Women's
Affairs (1980-81), Arts, Culture & Broadcasting (1982), Education
(1987)
|
Other public
offices
|
member, Council
for Status of Women
|
Publications
|
Hussey,
Cabinet Diaries, 1982-87 (Dublin, 1990)
|
Return
to top.
Monica Barnes
|
Date of Birth
|
February 1936
(née McDermott)
|
Family
|
married, three
children
|
Education
|
Oranges' Academy,
Belfast
|
Early career
|
administrator,
lecturer
|
Early political
experience
|
contested (1981);
Leinster, European election (1979, 1994)
|
Years in Oireachtas
|
Dáil: Nov.
1982-92 (def.), 1997-2002 (ret.); Seanad: Feb. to Nov. 1982
|
Party
|
Fine Gael
|
Constituency/Panel
|
Dun Laoghaire;
Seanad: Labour
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Dáil: Women's Affairs; Seanad: Law Reform, Assistant Whip
|
Committees
|
Women's Rights
(vice chair, 1983-87; chair 1989-92); Justice, Equality & Women's
Rights (vice chair, 1997)
|
Return
to top.
Mary O'Rourke
|
Date of Birth
|
May 1937 (née
Lenihan)
|
Family
|
daughter and
sister of TDs; widow, two sons
|
Education
|
University College
Dublin; Maynooth College
|
Early career
|
schoolteacher
|
Early political
experience
|
Athlone UDC
(1975-87), Westmeath County Council (1979-87)
|
Years in Oireachtas
|
Seanad: 1981-82;
Dáil: November 1982-2002 (def.)
|
Party
|
Fianna Fáil
|
Constituency
|
Longford-Westmeath,
Westmeath (1992-)
|
Offices held
|
Minister for
Education (1987-91), Minister for Health (1991-92), Minister of
State, Department of Industry & Commerce (with special responsibility
for Trade & Marketing) (1992-93) Minister of State, Department
of Enterprise & Employment (with special responsibility for
Labour Affairs) (1993-94), Minister for Public Enterprise (1997-date)
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Education (1982-87)
|
Other public
offices
|
Deputy Leader
of Fianna Fáil (1994-2002)
|
Return
to top.
Anne Colley
|
Date of Birth
|
July 1951
|
Family
|
daughter and
granddaughter of TDs, married, three children
|
Education
|
University
College Dublin
|
Early career
|
solicitor
|
Years in Dáil
|
1987-89 (def.)
|
Party
|
Progressive
Democrats
|
Constituency
|
Dublin South
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Institutional
Reform, Labour & the Public Service (1987-88); Justice (1988-89)
|
Committees
|
Public
Accounts (1987-88)
|
Return
to top.
Geraldine Kennedy
|
Date of Birth
|
September 1951
|
Family
|
married, one
child
|
Education
|
College of Commerce,
Rathmines
|
Early career
|
journalist
|
Years in Dáil
|
1987-89 (def.)
|
Party
|
Progressive
Democrat
|
Constituency
|
Dun Laoghaire
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Foreign Affairs,
Northern Ireland; Assistant Whip
|
Committees
|
Procedure &
Privileges (1988)
|
Other public
offices
|
First woman
political correspondent in Ireland, first woman Chair of Oireachtas
Press Gallery (1975)
|
Return
to top.
Mary Mooney
|
Date of Birth
|
December
1958
|
Family
|
married,
one child
|
Education
|
St Theresa's
Presentation Convent, Dublin
|
Early career
|
retailer
in family business
|
Early political
experience
|
Dublin
City Council (1985)
|
Years in Dáil
|
1987-89 (def.)
|
Party
|
Fianna Fáil
|
Constituency
|
Dublin South
Central
|
Committees
|
Women's
Rights (Vice Chair, 1987-89)
|
Return
to top.
Máirín
Quill
|
Date of Birth
|
September 1936
|
Family
|
single
|
Education
|
University College
Cork
|
Early career
|
secondary school
teacher
|
Early political
experience
|
Cork Corporation
(1979-??), contested Cork City (1977) Cork North Central (1981)
|
Years in Oireachtas
|
Dáil:
1987-97, Seanad: 1997-2002
|
Party
|
Progressive
Democrats
|
Constituency
or panel
|
Dáil:
Cork North Central; Seanad: Taoiseach's nominee
|
Committees
|
Irish language
(1987), Crime committee chair (1991-92)
|
Other public
offices
|
Chair of Progressive
Democratic Party
|
Return
to top.
Theresa Ahearn
|
Date of Birth
|
May 1951
|
Family
|
married, four
sons
|
Education
|
University College,
Dublin; St Patrick's College, Maynooth
|
Early career
|
teacher
|
Early political
experience
|
Tipperary County
Council (1983)
|
Years in Dáil
|
1989-2000 (obit)
|
Party
|
Fine Gael
|
Constituency
|
Tipperary South
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Labour (1992),
Energy (1992-93), Equality & Disabilities (1997)
|
Committees
|
Crime (1991); Social Affairs (1993); Chair, Women's
Affairs (1993-95); Foreign Affairs (1997); Justice, Equality &
Women's Rights (1998-2000)
|
Other public
offices
|
Clonmel Corporation
(1993-2000), Fine Gael National Executive
|
Death
|
20 September
2000
|
Return
to top.
Niamh Bhreathnach
|
Date of Birth
|
June 1945
|
Family
|
married, two
children
|
Education
|
Froebel Teacher
Training College, Blackrock
|
Early career
|
teacher
|
Early political
experience
|
Dun Laoghaire
Borough Council (1991-93)
|
Years in Dáil
|
1992-97 (def.)
|
Party
|
Labour
|
Constituency
|
Dun Laoghaire
|
Offices held
|
Minister for
Education (1993-97)
|
Other public
offices
|
Vice-chairperson,
Labour Party (1989-90); Chairperson (1990-93)
|
Return
to top.
Eithne Fitzgerald
|
Date of Birth
|
November 1950
|
Family
|
married, three
children
|
Education
|
University College
Dublin
|
Early career
|
economist
|
Early political
experience
|
Dublin County
Council (1979-93)
|
Years in Dáil
|
1992-97 (def.)
|
Party
|
Labour
|
Constituency
|
Dublin South
|
Offices held
|
Minister of
State, Office of the Tánaiste and Department of Finance (with
special responsibility for National Development Plan), 1993
|
Return
to top.
Frances Fitzgerald
|
Date of Birth
|
August 1950
|
Family
|
married, three
children
|
Education
|
University College
Dublin, London School of Economics
|
Early career
|
social worker
|
Years in Dáil
|
1992-2002 (def.)
|
Party
|
Fine Gael
|
Constituency
|
Dublin South
East
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Arts, Culture
and the Gaeltacht and the Islands (1993-94), Defence (1997-2000),
Social, Community & Family Affairs (2000-01); Equality, Opportunity,
& Family Affairs (2001-2002)
|
Committees
|
Justice, Equality
& Law Reform
|
Other public
offices
|
Chair of Council for the Status of Women (1988-92); member, Second
Commission on the Status of Women (1990-93); member, Forum for Peace
and Reconciliation (1995-6); Fine Gael National Executive
|
Return
to top.
Deirdre Clune
|
Date of Birth
|
1 June 1959
(née Barry)
|
Family
|
daughter and
granddaughter of TDs; married, four children
|
Education
|
University College
Cork, Trinity College Dublin
|
Early career
|
civil engineer
|
Years in Dáil
|
1997-2002 (def.)
|
Party
|
Fine Gael
|
Constituency
|
Cork South Central
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Environmental
Information & Protection (1997-2000), Arts Heritage & Gaeltacht
and the Islands (2000-01), Environmental & Consumer Protection
(2001-2002)
|
Return
to top.
Marian McGennis
|
Date of Birth
|
November 1953
|
Family
|
married, three
children
|
Education
|
St Patrick's
College, Maynooth
|
Early career
|
civil servant
|
Early political
experience
|
Dublin County
Council (1985-91), Fingal County Council (1993-98), Dublin Corporation
(1999), contested Dublin North (1992)
|
Years in Oireachtas
|
Seanad: 1993-97,
Dáil: 1997-2002 (def.)
|
Party
|
Fianna Fáil
|
Constituency
|
Seanad: taoiseach's
nominee; Dáil: Dublin Central, Dublin Mid West (2002-date)
|
Opposition portfolios
|
Equality, Law
Reform & Women's Affairs (1996-97)
|
Committees
|
The Constitution
|
Return
to top.
|