Mary Harney TD

Picture of Mary Harney

Minister for Health and Children

Home Address: Clonskeagh, Dublin 6.

Business Address: Department of Health and Children, Hawkins House, Dublin 2

Birth Place: Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, March 1953

Married: Brian Geoghegan

Education: Convent of Mercy, Goldenbridge, Inchicore, Dublin; Colaiste Bhride, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Trinity College Dublin (BA [Mod])

Occupation: Public Representative

Mary Harney was appointed as Minister for Health and Children in September 2004, and reappointed following the 2007 General Election. Previously, she was Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 1997 to 2002 and was re-appointed in June 2002, making history as the first woman to hold the title of Tánaiste and also to serve a second successive term. She served as leader of the Progressive Democrats Party from 1993 to 2006.

She was Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 1997 to 2002. She was Minister of State at the Department of Environment with special responsibility for Environmental Protection 1989-1992. She was first elected to the Dáil in 1981 as a Fianna Fáil candidate.

Mary Harney was a founder member of the Progressive Democrats with Desmond O’Malley in 1985. In entering political life as a Senate nominee of then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch in August 1977, she became the youngest ever member of the Seanad. She had been a candidate in the 1977 general election in Dublin South-East, and was eventually elected to the Dail in 1981. She was a member of Dublin County Council (1979-1991) and Vice Chairperson of County Dublin Vocational Educational Committee (1985).

Email: Minister's_Office@health.irlgov.ie

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