Mary Mitchell O'Connor explained

Office:Minister of State
Suboffice:Education and Skills
Subterm:2017–2020
Office1:Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Taoiseach1:Enda Kenny
Term Start1:6 May 2016
Term End1:14 June 2017
Predecessor1:Richard Bruton
Successor1:Frances Fitzgerald
Office2:Teachta Dála
Term Start2:February 2011
Term End2:February 2020
Constituency2:Dún Laoghaire
Birth Name:Mary O'Connor
Birth Date:10 June 1959
Birth Place:Milltown, County Galway, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Party:Fine Gael
Otherparty:Progressive Democrats
(2004–2007)
Children:2

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (born 10 June 1959) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Minister of State from 2017 to 2020 and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation from 2016 to 2017. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dún Laoghaire constituency from 2011 to 2020.[1] [2] [3]

Early and personal life

Born Mary O'Connor in Milltown, County Galway. She graduated from Carysfort College and NUI, Maynooth, and worked as a teacher. She was appointed principal of Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne, County Meath. In 1999, she became school principal at The Harold School, Glasthule, a position she held until her election to the Dáil.

She lives in Cabinteely, Dublin. She is divorced and has two sons from her marriage.[4] [5] [6]

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council: 2004–2011

In 2004, as a Progressive Democrats candidate, she was elected to Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council.[7] As a councillor, she campaigned against the reintroduction of university fees, against the budget-related increase in pupil-teacher ratios. In 2006, when the Maritime Museum closed, she called on the council to financially support it.[8]

In December 2007, she resigned from the Progressive Democrats and joined Fine Gael.[9] Welcoming her to the party, Enda Kenny said that it was "the first move by a Progressive Democrats public representative to join an alternative party since the general election". Mitchell O'Connor said that she "made a decision on how best to represent the people that elected me".[10] In 2008–2009, she was Chairperson of Dún Laoghaire Area Committee for Transport, Economic Development and Planning.[11]

In June 2009, she was re-elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. She was the Chairperson of Dún Laoghaire Area Committee for Environment, Housing, Culture, Community Development and Amenities.[11]

In August 2010, she called for a reform of Dáil Éireann, so that women can work efficiently there.[12] She campaigned for the eviction of men who are perpetrators of domestic violence.[13]

Dáil Éireann: 2011–2020

In December 2010, she was selected as a Fine Gael candidate for the Dún Laoghaire constituency.[14]

Mitchell O'Connor was elected as a TD for the Dún Laoghaire constituency at the 2011 general election. The newly elected Fine Gael TD surprised staff at Leinster House on 2 March 2011, by driving her campaign car across the pedestrian plinth in the Dáil car park and down the steps.[15]

On 8 June 2015, Mitchell O'Connor was selected by Dún Laoghaire Fine Gael as their candidate to contest the next general election at a selection convention. She defeated councillors Barry Ward and Maria Bailey, daughter of John Bailey, although Bailey was later added to the ticket, and both were elected.[16] After a delay due to talks on government formation, Mitchell O'Connor was appointed Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in May 2016. Faced with the challenges to Ireland posed by the 2016 British vote to leave the European Union, she set up a Brexit unit and boosted staffing in the Industrial Development Authority and Enterprise Ireland.[17]

After Leo Varadkar was appointed Taoiseach in June 2017, she was not re-appointed to cabinet, but was instead appointed by the government as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills with responsibility for Higher Education.[18] This was a "super junior" role which allowEd her attend cabinet meetings, without a vote.[19] In November 2018, Mitchell O'Connor announced female only academic posts to increase the proportion of senior female academics in universities and institutes of technology in Ireland.[20] There had never been a female university president in 400 years of higher education. She opened applications to the senior academic leadership initiative in June 2019.[17]

In the 2020 general election, O'Connor stood for re-election but lost her seat.[21] The Irish Times reported her defeat as "the big surprise" of the Dún Laoghaire election.[22]

Campaigns and policies

In July 2011, Mitchell O'Connor turned Leinster House pink in aid of breast cancer.[23] Mitchell O'Connor is pro-choice and supported repealing the Eighth Amendment.[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mary Mitchell O'Connor. Oireachtas Members Database. 16 June 2011. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612184536/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Mary-Mitchell-O'Connor.D.2011-03-09/. live.
  2. Book: Collins, Stephen. Stephen Collins (journalist). Nealon's Guide to the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad. 2011. Gill & Macmillan. Dublin. 107. 9780717150595.
  3. News: Boyd-Barret takes last Dún Laoghaire seat. The Irish Times. 27 February 2011. 27 February 2011. 23 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023092507/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0227/breaking16.html. live.
  4. News: Profile: Mary Mitchell-O'Connor. The Irish Times. 29 February 2016. 7 June 2018. 4 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160704125303/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/profile-mary-mitchell-o-connor-fg-1.2552076. live.
  5. News: Mary Mitchell O'Connor. PressReader . Sunday Independent. 24 February 2013. 8 June 2018. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141945/https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/sunday-independent-ireland/20130224/282428461597753. live.
  6. News: Mary Mitchell O'Connor partied in Coppers. Independent.ie. 15 June 2017. 8 June 2018. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144127/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/mary-mitchell-oconnor-partied-in-coppers-last-night-but-confirms-she-didnt-get-the-shift-35828998.html. live.
  7. Web site: Mary Mitchell O'Connor. ElectionsIreland.org. 11 December 2011. 17 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111017061048/http://electionsireland.org//candidate.cfm?ID=291. live.
  8. Web site: Minutes of Meeting of County Council. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. 14 February 2011. 13 March 2006. 27 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927121616/http://www.dlrcoco.ie/Meetings/2006/countycouncil/March06.htm. live.
  9. News: Michael. Brennan. Defection of O'Connor to Fine Gael is a fresh blow for the PDs. Irish Independent. 11 December 2007. 11 December 2007. 11 December 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071211200558/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/defection-of-oconnor-to-fine-gael-is-a-fresh-blow-for-the-pds-1244015.html. live.
  10. Web site: Enda Kenny Welcomes Former PD Cllr Mary Mitchell O'Connor to Fine Gael Party. City Local. 11 December 2007. 21 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110721122909/http://www.citylocal.ie/DublinSouth/news-in-DublinSouth/enda-kenny-welcomes-former-pd-cllr-mary-mitchell-oconnor-to-fine-gael-party-3803/. live.
  11. Web site: Mary Mitchell O'Connor. Electoral candidates. 11 December 2011. 16 November 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111116103947/http://www.micandidate.eu/candidate.aspx?idcandidate=2289. live.
  12. Web site: Mum Olwyn is right to quit the Dail, insists Fox. Evening Herald. 31 August 2010. 21 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125031/http://www.herald.ie/world-news/mum-olwyn-is-right-to-quit-the-dail-insists-fox-2318507.html. live.
  13. Web site: Council powerless to evict perpetrators of domestic violence . Dublin People . 28 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110206123445/http://www.dublinpeople.com/content/view/4210/57 . 6 February 2011 .
  14. News: Fine Gael urges Ross to contest election. The Irish Times. 13 January 2011. 13 February 2011. 22 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110122212913/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0113/1224287413101.html. live.
  15. News: Fine Gael and Labour briefed on economy. RTÉ News. 3 March 2011. 2 March 2011. 4 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110304000024/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0302/politics.html. live.
  16. News: Niall. O'Connor. Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell O'Connor selected to represent party in Dun Laoghaire. Irish Independent. 8 June 2015. 12 June 2015. 9 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150609035353/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fine-gael-td-mary-mitchell-oconnor-selected-to-represent-party-in-dun-laoghaire-31287543.html. live.
  17. McNamara, Maedhbh. A woman's place is in the Cabinet:women ministers in Irish governments 1919-2019. Drogheda, Sea Dog Books,2020.ISBN 978-1-913275-06-8
  18. News: Mary Mitchell O'Connor demoted in Leo Varadkar's Cabinet. The Irish Times. 14 June 2017. 8 June 2018. 5 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181105230720/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/mary-mitchell-o-connor-demoted-in-leo-varadkar-s-cabinet-1.3119736. live.
  19. Web site: Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) – Vol. 953 No. 4. 14 June 2017. Houses of the Oireachtas. 19 May 2022. 23 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201223202042/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2017-06-14/12/. live.
  20. News: Government plans women-only senior academic posts. Kelly. Emma O. 11 November 2018. RTE.ie. 12 November 2018. 11 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181111194441/https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/1111/1010169-education-equality/. live.
  21. News: Election 2020: Dún Laoghaire . 9 February 2020 . . Dublin . 5 June 2021 . live . https://archive.today/20210605183059/https://www.irishtimes.com/election2020/dun-laoghaire . 5 June 2021.
  22. News: Dún Laoghaire results: Green's Smyth 'overwhelmed' at securing seat . 9 February 2020 . Olivia . Kelly . . Dublin . 5 June 2021 . live . https://archive.today/20210605182500/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-results-green-s-smyth-overwhelmed-at-securing-seat-1.4165221 . 5 June 2021.
  23. News: Dáil turns pink for cancer awareness. RTÉ News. 15 July 2011. 16 July 2011. 18 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718083553/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0715/politics.html. live.
  24. News: Fine Gael politicians are VERY divided on the 8th Amendment*. O'Connell. Hugh. TheJournal.ie. 12 November 2018. en. 13 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181113025518/https://www.thejournal.ie/fine-gael-8th-amendment-2-2183788-Jun2015/. live.

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