Mary Harney
| Mary Harney | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Minister for Health and Children | |
|
In office 29 September 2004 – 19 January 2011 |
|
| Taoiseach |
Bertie Ahern Brian Cowen |
| Preceded by | Micheál Martin |
| Succeeded by | Mary Coughlan |
| Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment | |
|
In office 26 June 1997 – 13 September 2004 |
|
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | Richard Bruton |
| Succeeded by | Micheál Martin |
| Leader of the Progressive Democrats | |
|
In office 25 May 2007 – 17 April 2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Michael McDowell |
| Succeeded by | Ciarán Cannon |
|
In office 26 October 1993 – 11 September 2006 |
|
| Preceded by | Desmond O'Malley |
| Succeeded by | Michael McDowell |
| Tánaiste | |
|
In office 26 June 1997 – 13 September 2006 |
|
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | Dick Spring |
| Succeeded by | Michael McDowell |
| Teachta Dála | |
|
In office May 2002 – February 2011 |
|
| Constituency | Dublin Mid-West |
|
In office July 1981 – May 2002 |
|
| Constituency | Dublin South-West |
| Senator | |
|
In office October 1977 – June 1981 |
|
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
11 March 1953 Ballinasloe, Galway, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Independent (Since 2009) |
| Other political affiliations |
Progressive Democrats (1985–2009) Fianna Fáil (1977–85) |
| Spouse(s) | Brian Geoghegan |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Dublin |
Mary Harney (born 11 March 1953) is an Irish former politician. She served as Tánaiste from 1997 to 2006, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 1997 to 2004, and as Minister for Health and Children from 2004 to 2011. She also served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-West and Dublin Mid-West constituencies from 1981 to 2011.
She was leader of the Progressive Democrats party between 1993 and 2006 and again from 2007 to 2008. She resumed her role as leader in 2007 after her successor, Michael McDowell, lost his seat at the 2007 general election. She is the longest-ever serving female member of Dáil Éireann.
Harney was born in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway in 1953. Her parents, who lived in nearby Ahascragh, 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 General Studies, and for a brief time was a secondary school teacher at Castleknock College in Dublin.
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