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'''Mary Harney''' (born [[March 11]], [[1953]]) is an Irish [[Progressive Democrats]] |
'''Mary Harney''' (born [[March 11]], [[1953]]) is an [[Politics of the Republic of Ireland|Irish politician]] who has been the leader of the [[Progressive Democrats]] (the fourth largest political party in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]) since [[1993]]. A [[Teachta Dála]] for [[Dublin Mid West]] she currently serves as [[Tánaiste]] and [[Minister for Health and Children (Ireland)|Minister for Health and Children]]. Harney is currently the [[List of longest-serving members of Dáil Éireann|longest-serving female member]] of [[Dáil Éireann]]. |
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==Early & Private Life== |
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Mary Harney was born in [[Ballinasloe]], [[County Galway]]. Her parents were both farmers but her family moved to Newcastle, [[County Dublin]] shortly after her birth. She was educated |
Mary Harney was born in [[Ballinasloe]], [[County Galway]] in 1953. Her parents were both farmers but her family moved to Newcastle, [[County Dublin]] shortly after her birth. She was educated at the Convent of Mercy, [[Inchicore]] and Presentation Convent, [[Clondalkin]] before studying at [[Trinity College, Dublin]]. During her time at university she made history by becoming the first female auditor of the [[College Historical Society (Trinity College, Dublin)|College Historical Society]]. In [[1976]] she graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in Modern Studies and for a brief time was a secondary school teacher at [[Castleknock College]] in Dublin. |
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==Fianna Fáil== |
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It wasn't long before Harney's name was mentioned in political circles. She came to the attention of [[Fianna Fáil]] leader [[Jack Lynch]] and stood unsuccessfully as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the [[Irish general election, 1977|1977 general election]]. As a consolation she was appointed to [[Seanad Éireann]] by Lynch who had become [[Taoiseach]]. At 24 she holds the record as the youngest Senator in Irish history. |
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In [[1979]] Harney had her first electoral success when she was elected to [[Dublin County Council]]. Two years later she was successfully elected to the [[Dáil]] in the [[Irish general election, 1981|1981 general election]] for [[Dublin West]]. In spite of changing constituencies she has retained her seat at every election since then. Like many others in [[Fianna Fáil]] Harney faced a number of problems from party leader [[Charles J. Haughey]]. She was expelled from the party after voting in favour of the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]] in [[1985]] and decided to leave the party. |
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In November [[2001]] Harney married Brian Geoghegan, a business leader, in a low-key afternoon ceremony in [[Dublin]] on a day in which she attended to a number of other significant political meetings. |
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==Progressive Democrats== |
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Harney went on the become a founder-member of the [[Progressive Democrats]] with [[Desmond O'Malley]] and [[Bobby Molloy]] in [[1986]]. Many other disaffected TDs followed suit. The new political party put the economic recovery of the country at the top of their political priorities. |
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| ⚫ | In [[1989]] the [[Progressive Democrats]] entered into a coalition government with [[Charles Haughey]]'s [[Fianna Fáil]]. Harney was appointed [[Minister of State (Ireland)|Minister of State]] with responsibility for Environmental Protection. As Minister of State she banned the sale of bituminous coal in [[Dublin]], thus eliminating the city's famous smog. She served in this position until the party withdrew from government in late [[1992]]. In February [[1993]] Harney was appointed deputy-leader of the Progressive Democrats, becoming party leader in October of that year. She became the first woman to lead an Irish political party with parliamentary representatation when she succeeded [[Desmond O'Malley]] as leader. |
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In [[1981]] she contested the election again and was successful in the constituency of [[Dublin West]]. She has retained her seat at every election since then. Like many others Harney faced a number of problems from [[Charles Haughey]] as leader of [[Fianna Fáil]]. She was expelled from the [[Fianna Fáil]] Party after defying the party whip by voting in favour of the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]] in [[1985]]. She went on the become a founder-member of the [[Progressive Democrats]] with [[Desmond O'Malley]] later that year. The new political party put the economic recovery of the country at the top of their political priorities. |
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==In Government== |
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| ⚫ | In [[1989]] the [[Progressive Democrats]] entered into coalition government with [[Charles Haughey]]'s [[Fianna Fáil]]. Harney was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Environmental Protection. As Minister of State she banned the sale of bituminous coal in [[Dublin]], thus eliminating the city's famous smog. In |
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Following the [[Irish general election, 1997|1997 general election]] and lengthy negotiations the [[Progressive Democrats]] entered into coalition government with [[Fianna Fáil]]. Harney was appointed the first female [[Tánaiste]] and [[Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment|Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment]]. As Minister she presided over a boom in the Irish economy which resulted in a record number of jobs being created. |
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Following the [[2002 |
Following the [[Irish general election, 2002|2002 general election]] Harney lead the [[Progressive Democrats]], who had doubled their seats from four to eight, back into coalition with [[Fianna Fáil]], the first time a government had been re-elected since [[1969]]. She was re-appointed Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment but was reported in [[2003]] as seeking a change. In a government reshuffle on [[September 29]] [[2004]], she was appointed [[Irish Minister for Health & Children|Minister for Health & Children]], something of a poisoned chalice in Irish politics. |
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Harney was Ireland's representative to the [[European Council of Ministers]] for the [[Software Patents Directive]]. Since the Council's first reading fell during the Irish [[Presidency of the EU]], she was chair of the meeting that discarded the amendments by the [[European Parliament]] which confirmed the exclusion of software innovations from what constitutes patentable subject matter. |
Harney was Ireland's representative to the [[European Council of Ministers]] for the [[Software Patents Directive]]. Since the Council's first reading fell during the Irish [[Presidency of the EU]], she was chair of the meeting that discarded the amendments by the [[European Parliament]] which confirmed the exclusion of software innovations from what constitutes patentable subject matter. |
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Revision as of 18:48, 14 January 2006
Mary Harney (born March 11, 1953) is an Irish politician who has been the leader of the Progressive Democrats (the fourth largest political party in Ireland) since 1993. A Teachta Dála for Dublin Mid West she currently serves as Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. Harney is currently the longest-serving female member of Dáil Éireann.
Early & Private Life
Mary Harney was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway in 1953. Her parents were both farmers but her family moved to Newcastle, County Dublin shortly after her birth. She was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Inchicore and Presentation Convent, Clondalkin before studying at Trinity College, Dublin. During her time at university she made history by becoming the first female auditor of the College Historical Society. In 1976 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Studies and for a brief time was a secondary school teacher at Castleknock College in Dublin.
Fianna Fáil
It wasn't long before Harney's name was mentioned in political circles. She came to the attention of Fianna Fáil leader Jack Lynch and stood unsuccessfully as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the 1977 general election. As a consolation she was appointed to Seanad Éireann by Lynch who had become Taoiseach. At 24 she holds the record as the youngest Senator in Irish history.
In 1979 Harney had her first electoral success when she was elected to Dublin County Council. Two years later she was successfully elected to the Dáil in the 1981 general election for Dublin West. In spite of changing constituencies she has retained her seat at every election since then. Like many others in Fianna Fáil Harney faced a number of problems from party leader Charles J. Haughey. She was expelled from the party after voting in favour of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985 and decided to leave the party.
In November 2001 Harney married Brian Geoghegan, a business leader, in a low-key afternoon ceremony in Dublin on a day in which she attended to a number of other significant political meetings.
Progressive Democrats
Harney went on the become a founder-member of the Progressive Democrats with Desmond O'Malley and Bobby Molloy in 1986. Many other disaffected TDs followed suit. The new political party put the economic recovery of the country at the top of their political priorities.
In 1989 the Progressive Democrats entered into a coalition government with Charles Haughey's Fianna Fáil. Harney was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Environmental Protection. As Minister of State she banned the sale of bituminous coal in Dublin, thus eliminating the city's famous smog. She served in this position until the party withdrew from government in late 1992. In February 1993 Harney was appointed deputy-leader of the Progressive Democrats, becoming party leader in October of that year. She became the first woman to lead an Irish political party with parliamentary representatation when she succeeded Desmond O'Malley as leader.
In Government
Following the 1997 general election and lengthy negotiations the Progressive Democrats entered into coalition government with Fianna Fáil. Harney was appointed the first female Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment. As Minister she presided over a boom in the Irish economy which resulted in a record number of jobs being created.
Following the 2002 general election Harney lead the Progressive Democrats, who had doubled their seats from four to eight, back into coalition with Fianna Fáil, the first time a government had been re-elected since 1969. She was re-appointed Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment but was reported in 2003 as seeking a change. In a government reshuffle on September 29 2004, she was appointed Minister for Health & Children, something of a poisoned chalice in Irish politics.
Harney was Ireland's representative to the European Council of Ministers for the Software Patents Directive. Since the Council's first reading fell during the Irish Presidency of the EU, she was chair of the meeting that discarded the amendments by the European Parliament which confirmed the exclusion of software innovations from what constitutes patentable subject matter.
Political career