Maureen O'Sullivan (politician)
Maureen O'Sullivan | |
|---|---|
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| Teachta Dála | |
| In office June 2009 – February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Central |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 March 1951 East Wall, Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Website | maureenosullivan |
Maureen O'Sullivan (born 10 March 1951) is a former Irish Independent politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Central constituency from 2009 to 2020.[1][2]
Early life
A native of Dublin's East Wall, she was educated locally at Mount Carmel school. After completing a BA at University College Dublin, she then went on to work as an English and History teacher and guidance counsellor in a secondary school in Baldoyle, a position she held for 30 years.[3]
Political career
She was a member of Tony Gregory's local political organisation in the 1970s, first canvassing for him and later serving as his election agent. She was co-opted onto Dublin City Council for the North Inner City local electoral area from September 2008 to June 2009, after the retirement of Mick Rafferty.[2] After the death of Tony Gregory, she won the resulting by-election which was held on the same day as the local elections where she also won a seat on Dublin City Council, for the North Inner City local electoral area. Marie Metcalfe was co-opted to take the seat due to the dual mandate rule; subsequently Anna Quigley replaced Metcalfe on Dublin City Council, who was in turn replaced by Mel MacGiobúin in March 2014.[4] MacGiobúin failed to be elected at the local elections held in May.
O'Sullivan was re-elected to the Dáil at the 2011 general election. She joined the Dáil Technical group which gave independents and minor parties more speaking time in Dáil debates.[5]
She described a proposal for political gender quota legislation as "tokenistic" and that women were able to get themselves nominated for election.[6]
In December 2015, Maureen O'Sullivan and fellow independent TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace each put forward offers of a €5,000 surety for a 23-year-old man being prosecuted under terrorism legislation in the Special Criminal Court in Dublin charged with membership of an illegal dissident republican terrorist organisation.[7][8]
After the 2016 general election she unsuccessfully stood for election as Ceann Comhairle. She joined a technical group aligned with Independents 4 Change, while remaining outside the Independents 4 Change party.[9] O'Sullivan was criticised by the brother of late TD Tony Gregory, over an allegedly false claim made in her election literature.[10]
On 16 January 2020, O'Sullivan announced she would not be standing in the February 2020 general election.[11]
References
- ^ "Maureen O'Sullivan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
- ^ a b "Maureen O'Sullivan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
- ^ Marie O'Halloran (8 June 2009). "O'Sullivan dedicates her victory to Tony Gregory's legacy". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
- ^ http://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/content/YourCouncil/CouncilMeetings/Documents/030314Minutes.pdf
- ^ "TDs agree to form technical group". The Irish Times. 9 March 2011.
- ^ "Political gender quota legislation planned". RTÉ News. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ^ Hickey, Daniel (17 December 2015). "Mick Wallace and Clare Daly among sureties on bail application for man arrested on IRA and explosive charges". Irish Independent. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ Hosford, Paul. "Independent TD defends attempt to post bail for man accused of involvement in plot to bomb Prince Charles visit". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ Bardon, Sarah (1 June 2016). "Ministers told they must seek permission to miss Dáil votes over 'delicate voting situation'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Brother of late Tony Gregory criticises TD Maureen O'Sullivan over election claim - Independent.ie". Independent.ie. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
- ^ O'Connell, Hugh (16 January 2020). "Independent TD Maureen O'Sullivan announces she will not run for re-election". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 January 2020.