Lorraine Higgins: Difference between revisions

Lorraine Higgins
Lorraine Higgins
	Higgins in 2014
Senator
	In office; 25 May 2011 – 8 June 2016
Constituency	Nominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born	3 August 1979 (age 45); Galway, Ireland
Political party	Labour Party
Alma mater	NUI Galway

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Lorraine Higgins (born 3 August 1979) is an Irish barrister, and a former Labour Party politician who represented the party in the 24th Seanad after being nominated by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny.^[1] From Galway, she is a graduate of NUI Galway (acquiring a B.A. from the university in 2001)^[2] and, later, the King's Inns.^[3] During her time there she was Labour Party Seanad spokesperson on Reform and Foreign Affairs.

Career

She ran as a candidate in the Galway East constituency at the 2011 general election. In May 2011, she was nominated by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to the 24th Seanad.^[4]

Higgins was a candidate for the Labour Party in the Midlands–North-West constituency for the 2014 European Parliament election but failed to take a seat during one of the worst elections for the Labour Party.

She unsuccessfully contested the 2016 Irish general election for the Galway East constituency.^[5]

She was not selected for re-appointment to the 25th Seanad. Higgins complained about how "regrettable" it was that more women were not included in the parliamentary party. She was quoted as saying: "For me it was the last throw of the dice and I probably won't be involved in representative politics again".^[6]

In March 2017, Higgins became employed as Head of Public Affairs and Communications and as a board member with Retail Excellence. She was promoted to the position of CEO in July 2018.^[7]

She subsequently founded leading digital representative body, Digital Business Ireland, and Dublin-based consultancy company, Rockwood Public Affairs.^{[citation needed]}

She was appointed to the position of Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic in 2019.^{[citation needed]}

In August 2020, she attended a golf party in County Galway which breached the COVID-19 guidelines.^[8]

2015 threats and harassment

During the summer of 2015, a man named Stephen French of Walkinstown sent her messages involving violent and anti-Semitic content, saying that he "will watch her bleed" and that he is "going to blow her fucking Jew nose right off".^[9] In the aftermath of the incidents, French was spared from serving time in jail and given a suspended six-month sentence after his guilty plea to three charges of threatening Higgins and two charges of harassing her.^[10]

References

^ "Lorraine Higgins". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
^ "Alumni events: Dublin alumni club". Cois Coiribe. Winter 2015. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017.
^ "Lorraine Higgins". Labour Party. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
^ Edwards, Elaine (20 May 2011). "McAleese appointed to Seanad". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
^ "Galway East results: Ciarán Cannon set to be elected". The Irish Times. 27 February 2016.
^ Minihan, Mary (18 March 2016). "Ó Ríordáin and Humphreys selected by Labour for Seanad elections". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
^ "Who We Are?". Retail Excellence. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
^ Moore, Aoife (21 August 2020). "#Golfgate: Invite to Oireachtas event didn't mention pandemic". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
^ Pheland, Andrew; Schiller, Robin (10 January 2018). "'I will watch you bleed' - internet troll spared jail despite vile death threats against senator". Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
^ Hanley, Valerie (14 January 2018). "Mother of Online Troll Who Sent Death Threats to Senator: 'I've Cut Off Out internet'". extra.ie. Retrieved 17 March 2019.

External links

Lorraine Higgins's page on the Labour Party website

[oireachtas_db-1] "Lorraine Higgins". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2011.

[2] "Alumni events: Dublin alumni club". Cois Coiribe. Winter 2015. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017.

[bio-3] "Lorraine Higgins". Labour Party. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.

[IT_20052011-4] Edwards, Elaine (20 May 2011). "McAleese appointed to Seanad". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2011.

[election_2016-5] "Galway East results: Ciarán Cannon set to be elected". The Irish Times. 27 February 2016.

[6] Minihan, Mary (18 March 2016). "Ó Ríordáin and Humphreys selected by Labour for Seanad elections". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.

[7] "Who We Are?". Retail Excellence. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.

[8] Moore, Aoife (21 August 2020). "#Golfgate: Invite to Oireachtas event didn't mention pandemic". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.

[9] Pheland, Andrew; Schiller, Robin (10 January 2018). "'I will watch you bleed' - internet troll spared jail despite vile death threats against senator". Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.

[10] Hanley, Valerie (14 January 2018). "Mother of Online Troll Who Sent Death Threats to Senator: 'I've Cut Off Out internet'". extra.ie. Retrieved 17 March 2019.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Irish barrister and former politician (born 1979)}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
-{{Use Irish English|date=June 2020}}
+{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2024}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
 {{Infobox officeholder
-| name          = Lorraine Higgins
 | nationality   = Irish
+| image         = Lorraine Higgins, Feb 2014 (cropped).jpg
-| smallimage    =
+| caption       = Higgins in 2014
 | office        = [[Seanad Éireann|Senator]]
-| term_start    = May 2011
+| term_start    = 25 May 2011
-| term_end      = April 2016
+| term_end      = 8 June 2016
 | constituency  = [[Nominated members of Seanad Éireann|Nominated by the Taoiseach]]
 | party         = [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]]
@@ Line 16: / Line 17: @@
 | alma_mater    = [[NUI Galway]]
 |}}
+'''Lorraine Higgins''' (born 3 August 1979) is an Irish barrister, and a former [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] politician who represented the party in the [[24th Seanad]] after being [[Nominated members of Seanad Éireann|nominated by the Taoiseach]] [[Enda Kenny]].<ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Lorraine-Higgins.S.2011-05-25/|title=Lorraine Higgins|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=29 May 2011|archive-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108190453/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Lorraine-Higgins.S.2011-05-25|url-status=live}}</ref> From [[Galway]], she is a graduate of [[NUI Galway]] (acquiring a B.A. from the university in 2001)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nuigalway.ie/coiscoiribe2015/alumni/alumni-events/|title=Alumni events: Dublin alumni club|work=Cois Coiribe|date=Winter 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122064856/http://www.nuigalway.ie/coiscoiribe2015/alumni/alumni-events/|archive-date=22 November 2017}}</ref> and, later, the [[King's Inns]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.labour.ie/lorrainehiggins/|title=Lorraine Higgins|work=[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]]|access-date=29 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605151853/http://www.labour.ie/lorrainehiggins/|archive-date=5 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> During her time there she was Labour Party Seanad spokesperson on Reform and Foreign Affairs.
-'''Lorraine Higgins''' (born 3 August 1979) is an Irish barrister and a former [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] politician who represented the party in the [[24th Seanad]] after being [[Nominated members of Seanad Éireann|nominated by the Taoiseach]] [[Enda Kenny]].<ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Lorraine-Higgins.S.2011-05-25/|title=Lorraine Higgins|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=29 May 2011}}</ref> From [[Galway]], she is a graduate of [[NUI Galway]] (acquiring a B.A. from the university in 2001)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nuigalway.ie/coiscoiribe2015/alumni/alumni-events/|title=Alumni events: Dublin alumni club|work=Cois Coiribe|date=Winter 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122064856/http://www.nuigalway.ie/coiscoiribe2015/alumni/alumni-events/|archive-date=22 November 2017}}</ref> and, later, the [[King's Inns]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.labour.ie/lorrainehiggins/|title=Lorraine Higgins|work=[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]]|access-date=29 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605151853/http://www.labour.ie/lorrainehiggins/|archive-date=5 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> During her time there she was Labour Party Seanad spokesperson on Reform and Foreign Affairs.
 == Career ==
-She ran as a candidate in the [[Galway East (Dáil constituency)|Galway East]] constituency at the [[2011 Irish general election|2011 general election]]. In May 2011, she was [[Nominated members of Seanad Éireann|nominated by the Taoiseach]] [[Enda Kenny]] to the [[Members of the 24th Seanad|24th Seanad]].<ref name=IT_20052011>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0520/breaking59.html|title=McAleese appointed to Seanad|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=20 May 2011|first=Elaine|last=Edwards}}</ref>
+She ran as a candidate in the [[Galway East (Dáil constituency)|Galway East]] constituency at the [[2011 Irish general election|2011 general election]]. In May 2011, she was [[Nominated members of Seanad Éireann|nominated by the Taoiseach]] [[Enda Kenny]] to the [[24th Seanad]].<ref name=IT_20052011>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0520/breaking59.html|title=McAleese appointed to Seanad|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=20 May 2011|first=Elaine|last=Edwards|access-date=29 May 2011|archive-date=16 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016175851/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0520/breaking59.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
-Higgins was a candidate for the Labour Party in the [[Midlands–North-West (European Parliament constituency)|Midlands–North-West]] constituency for the [[2014 European Parliament election in Ireland|2014 European Parliament election]] but failed to take a seat during one of the worst elections for the Party. She did, however, get the most Party votes in all the constituencies they contested.{{fact|date=June 2020}}
+Higgins was a candidate for the Labour Party in the [[Midlands–North-West (European Parliament constituency)|Midlands–North-West]] constituency for the [[2014 European Parliament election in Ireland|2014 European Parliament election]] but failed to take a seat during one of the worst elections for the Labour Party.
-She unsuccessfully contested the [[2016 Irish general election]] for the [[Galway East (Dáil constituency)|Galway East]] constituency.<ref name=election_2016>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/galway-east-results-ciar%C3%A1n-cannon-set-to-be-elected-1.2549819|title=Galway East results: Ciarán Cannon set to be elected|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=27 Feb 2016}}</ref>
+She unsuccessfully contested the [[2016 Irish general election]] for the [[Galway East (Dáil constituency)|Galway East]] constituency.<ref name=election_2016>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/galway-east-results-ciar%C3%A1n-cannon-set-to-be-elected-1.2549819|title=Galway East results: Ciarán Cannon set to be elected|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=27 Feb 2016}}</ref>
-She was not selected for re-appointment to the [[Members of the 25th Seanad|25th Seanad]]. Higgins complained about how "regrettable" it was that more women were not included in the parliamentary party. She was quoted as saying: "For me it was the last throw of the dice and I probably won't be involved in representative politics again".<ref>{{cite web|first=Mary|last=Minihan|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/%C3%B3-r%C3%ADord%C3%A1in-and-humphreys-selected-by-labour-for-seanad-elections-1.2579210|title=Ó Ríordáin and Humphreys selected by Labour for Seanad elections|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=18 March 2016}}</ref>
+She was not selected for re-appointment to the [[25th Seanad]]. Higgins complained about how "regrettable" it was that more women were not included in the parliamentary party. She was quoted as saying: "For me it was the last throw of the dice and I probably won't be involved in representative politics again".<ref>{{cite news|first=Mary|last=Minihan|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/%C3%B3-r%C3%ADord%C3%A1in-and-humphreys-selected-by-labour-for-seanad-elections-1.2579210|title=Ó Ríordáin and Humphreys selected by Labour for Seanad elections|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=18 March 2016|access-date=19 March 2016|archive-date=24 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324200301/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/%C3%B3-r%C3%ADord%C3%A1in-and-humphreys-selected-by-labour-for-seanad-elections-1.2579210|url-status=live}}</ref>
-In March 2017, Higgins became employed as Head of Public Affairs and Communications and as a board member with Retail Excellence. She was promoted to the position of CEO in July 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who We Are?|url=http://www.retailexcellence.ie/about/board-members/|website=Retail Excellence|access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref>
+In March 2017, Higgins became employed as Head of Public Affairs and Communications and as a board member with Retail Excellence. She was promoted to the position of CEO in July 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who We Are?|url=http://www.retailexcellence.ie/about/board-members/|website=Retail Excellence|access-date=3 April 2017|archive-date=3 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403194902/http://www.retailexcellence.ie/about/board-members/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+She subsequently founded leading digital representative body, Digital Business Ireland, and Dublin-based consultancy company, Rockwood Public Affairs.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
-== 2015 threats and harassment ==
-During the summer of 2015, a man named Stephen French of Walkinstown sent her messages involving violent and anti-Semitic content, saying that he "will watch her bleed" and that he is "going to blow her fucking Jew nose right off".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/i-will-watch-you-bleed-internet-troll-spared-jail-despite-vile-death-threats-against-senator-36474556.html|title='I will watch you bleed' - internet troll spared jail despite vile death threats against senator|last1=Pheland|first1=Andrew|last2=Schiller|first2=Robin|website=Independent.ie|access-date=17 March 2019|date=10 January 2018}}</ref> In the aftermath of the incidents, French was spared from serving time in jail and given a suspended six-month sentence after his guilty plea to three charges of threatening Higgins and two charges of harassing her.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://extra.ie/2018/01/14/news/irish-news/internet-troll-lorraine-higgins-ashamed|last1=Hanley|first1=Valerie|title=Mother of Online Troll Who Sent Death Threats to Senator: 'I've Cut Off Out internet' |access-date=17 March 2019|date=14 January 2018 |website=[[extra.ie]]}}</ref>
+She was appointed to the position of Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic in 2019.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
-In August 2020, she [[Oireachtas Golf Society scandal|attended a golf party in County Galway]] which breached the COVID-19 guidelines.<ref>https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40035884.html</ref>
+In August 2020, she [[Oireachtas Golf Society scandal|attended a golf party in County Galway]] which breached the COVID-19 guidelines.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40035884.html |title=#Golfgate: Invite to Oireachtas event didn't mention pandemic |last=Moore |first=Aoife |date=21 August 2020 |newspaper=[[Irish Examiner]] |access-date=21 August 2020 |archive-date=24 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824222250/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40035884.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
+== 2015 threats and harassment ==
+During the summer of 2015, a man named Stephen French of Walkinstown sent her messages involving violent and anti-Semitic content, saying that he "will watch her bleed" and that he is "going to blow her fucking Jew nose right off".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/i-will-watch-you-bleed-internet-troll-spared-jail-despite-vile-death-threats-against-senator-36474556.html|title='I will watch you bleed' - internet troll spared jail despite vile death threats against senator|last1=Pheland|first1=Andrew|last2=Schiller|first2=Robin|website=Independent.ie|access-date=17 March 2019|date=10 January 2018|archive-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110121947/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/i-will-watch-you-bleed-internet-troll-spared-jail-despite-vile-death-threats-against-senator-36474556.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the aftermath of the incidents, French was spared from serving time in jail and given a suspended six-month sentence after his guilty plea to three charges of threatening Higgins and two charges of harassing her.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://extra.ie/2018/01/14/news/irish-news/internet-troll-lorraine-higgins-ashamed|last1=Hanley|first1=Valerie|title=Mother of Online Troll Who Sent Death Threats to Senator: 'I've Cut Off Out internet' |access-date=17 March 2019|date=14 January 2018 |website=[[extra.ie]]}}</ref>
 == References ==
@@ Line 46: / Line 50: @@
 [[Category:1979 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]
-[[Category:Alumni of NUI Galway]]
+[[Category:Alumni of the University of Galway]]
 [[Category:Irish barristers]]
-[[Category:Irish female golfers]]
-[[Category:Irish women lawyers]]
 [[Category:Labour Party (Ireland) senators]]
 [[Category:Members of the 24th Seanad]]
 [[Category:21st-century women members of Seanad Éireann]]
 [[Category:Nominated members of Seanad Éireann]]
-[[Category:People from Galway (city)]]
+[[Category:Lawyers from Galway (city)]]
 [[Category:Politicians from County Galway]]
 [[Category:Alumni of King's Inns]]
 [[Category:Victims of cyberbullying]]
+[[Category:21st-century Irish lawyers]]
+[[Category:Labour Party (Ireland) candidates in Dáil elections]]
+[[Category:21st-century Irish women lawyers]]

v t e « 23rd Seanad « Members of the 24th Seanad (2011–2016) » 25th Seanad »
Cathaoirleach Paddy Burke (FG) Leader of the Seanad Maurice Cummins (FG)
Administrative Panel	Martin Conway (FG) Mark Daly (FF) Michael W. D'Arcy (FG) John Kelly (Lab) Denis Landy (Lab) Tom Sheahan (FG) Diarmuid Wilson (FF)
Agricultural Panel	Paul Bradford (FG, then RI) Paddy Burke (FG) Michael Comiskey (FG) James Heffernan (Lab, then SD) Paschal Mooney (FF) Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (SF) Brian Ó Domhnaill (FF) Denis O'Donovan (FF) Susan O'Keeffe (Lab) Pat O'Neill (FG) Jim Walsh (FF)
Cultural and Educational Panel	Thomas Byrne (FF) Deirdre Clune (FG) John Gilroy (Lab) Michael Mullins (FG) Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF)
Industrial and Commercial Panel	Colm Burke (FG) Paul Coghlan (FG) Jimmy Harte (Lab) Imelda Henry (FG) Marc MacSharry (FF) Catherine Noone (FG) Averil Power (FF, then Ind) Kathryn Reilly (SF) Mary White (FF)
Labour Panel	Terry Brennan (FG) David Cullinane (SF) Maurice Cummins (FG) Fidelma Healy Eames (FG) Cáit Keane (FG) Terry Leyden (FF) Marie Moloney (Lab) Tony Mulcahy (FG) Darragh O'Brien (FF) Ned O'Sullivan (FF) John Whelan (Lab)
Dublin University	Ivana Bacik (Lab) Sean Barrett (Ind) David Norris (Ind)
National University	John Crown (Ind) Rónán Mullen (Ind) Feargal Quinn (Ind)
Nominated by the Taoiseach	Eamonn Coghlan (Ind, then FG) Jim D'Arcy (FG) Aideen Hayden (Lab) Lorraine Higgins (Lab) Fiach Mac Conghail (Ind) Martin McAleese (Ind) Mary Moran (Lab) Mary Ann O'Brien (Ind) Marie-Louise O'Donnell (Ind) Jillian van Turnhout (Ind) Katherine Zappone (Ind)
Elected or appointed later	2013 Hildegarde Naughton (FG) 2014 Gerard Craughwell (Ind) 2015 Máiría Cahill (Lab)
FF: Fianna Fáil FG: Fine Gael Lab: Labour Party RI: Renua Ireland SD: Social Democrats SF: Sinn Féin Ind: Independent