Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin (born June, 1959) is a senior 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 where she received a diploma in legal studies. 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. Like most female cabinet members Hanafin has been touted as a possible future leader of Fianna Fáil and possible first female Taoiseach. Her husband Senior Councel Eamom Leahy died suddenly in 2003 in Donegal. Since her appointment to the Education & Science portfolio, she has cultivated good relations with the teacher trade unions, following a period of strain which was evident during the incumbancy of her predecessor, Noel Dempsey.
Political Career
External links
This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database