Frances Fitzgerald (politician)
Frances Fitzgerald | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tánaiste | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2016 | |
| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Preceded by | Joan Burton |
| Minister for Justice and Equality | |
| Assumed office 8 May 2014 | |
| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Preceded by | Alan Shatter |
| Minister for Children and Youth Affairs | |
| In office 9 March 2011 – 7 May 2014 | |
| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Charles Flanagan |
| Leader of Fine Gael in the Seanad | |
| In office July 2007 – February 2011 | |
| Leader | Enda Kenny |
| Preceded by | Michael Finucane |
| Succeeded by | Maurice Cummins |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2011 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Mid–West |
| In office November 1992 – May 2002 | |
| Constituency | Dublin South–East |
| Senator | |
| In office July 2007 – February 2011 | |
| Constituency | Labour Panel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 August 1950 Croom, Limerick, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse | Michael Fitzgerald |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Social Worker |
| Website | www |
Frances Fitzgerald (born 1 August 1950) is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and serves as the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality. She has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Mid–West constituency since February 2011. She was a member of Seanad Éireann on the Labour Panel from 2007 to 2011, and was previously a TD for the Dublin South–East constituency from 1992 to 2002.[1]
Early and personal life
Born Frances Ryan in Croom, County Limerick, she was educated at Dominican College Sion Hill school, Blackrock, University College Dublin and London School of Economics.[2] She is a former social worker.
She is married to psychiatrist Michael Fitzgerald and has three sons, an actor, a trainee accountant and a student.[3][4]
Career
Fitzgerald was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1992 general election and retained her seat at the 1997 general election. She lost her seat at the 2002 general election. She then stood for election to the 22nd Seanad on the Administrative Panel, but was unsuccessful.
At the 1999 local elections, she was elected as a Dublin City Councillor for Rathmines, but she did not contest the 2004 local elections.[5]
Before being elected a TD, she had been a high-profile Chair of the Council for the Status of Women from 1988 to 1992.
She was the Fine Gael candidate at the 2007 general election for the Dublin Mid-West constituency, but she was not elected.[6] She was elected to the Seanad in July 2007. On 12 September 2007, she was appointed leader of the Fine Gael group in Seanad Éireann, and was also Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on Health and Children, and a member of the Fine Gael Front Bench.
She was elected as a Fine Gael TD for the Dublin Mid–West constituency at the 2011 and 2016 general elections.[5] On 9 March 2011, she was appointed as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. In the role she spoke out forcefully against the Catholic Church's role in covering up child abuse.[7]
On 8 May 2014, Fitzgerald succeeded Alan Shatter as Minister for Justice and Equality.[8][9]
Fitzgerald has spoken out in support of young families, and believes the government should take a more proactive role in helping parents and children. " I feel so strongly about the State taking a more proactive role around childcare, paternity leave and parental leave,” she noted. “I do want to see us getting to the place where the State is more supportive when it comes to childcare. We have been slow enough on that.”[10]
In early 2016 when gangland activity became an issue in Dublin, Fitzgerald committed that there would be a permanent armed response unit in Dublin. [11]
On 6th May 2016, Ms Fitzgerald was reappointed the Minister for Justice and Equality. She was also promoted to the position of Tánaiste or Deputy Prime Minister by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
References
- ^ "Ms. Frances Fitzgerald". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ "Lunch with... Frances Fitzgerald". Irish Independent. 1 March 2014.
- ^ "Profile: Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald". Irish Times. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ "Frances Fitzgerald: From social worker to Justice Minister". The Journal. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Frances Fitzgerald". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ "General Election 2007 – Dublin Mid–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Ireland Confronts the Vatican The New York Times, July 14, 2011
- ^ "Frances Fitzgerald named as new Minister for Justice". Irish Independent. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ "Frances Fitzgerald to replace Shatter as Minister for Justice". RTÉ News. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ Frances Fitzgerald: Miscarriage is the last big taboo in Ireland The Examiner, January 3, 2016
- ^ 'Saturation policing' – Frances Fitzgerald to set up new, permanent armed response unit in wake of gangland murders The Independent, February 9, 2016
External links
- 1950 births
- Living people
- Alumni of University College Dublin
- Alumni of the London School of Economics
- Female government ministers of the Republic of Ireland
- Female Teachtaí Dála
- Female members of Seanad Éireann
- Fine Gael TDs
- Local councillors in Dublin (city)
- Members of the 27th Dáil
- Members of the 28th Dáil
- Members of the 23rd Seanad
- Members of the 31st Dáil
- Members of the 32nd Dáil
- Ministers for Justice (Ireland)
- Politicians from County Limerick
- Tánaistí