PROFILE:

Born in Thurles, Co. Tipperary 1959, daughter of Des Hanafin (Senator 1969-1993, 1997-2002) and a sister of Senator John Hanafin, (Senator, 2002-present). Mary was educated at Presentation Convent, Thurles, further at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (BA, HdipED) and the Dublin Institute of Technology (Diploma in Legal Studies).

Before being elected to Dáil Éireann in 1997, Mary was a secondary school teacher of Irish and History at Dominican College, Sion Hill, Blackrock.

First elected to Dáil Éireann in 1997, in January 2000 Mary was promoted by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, to Minister of State at the Departments of Health and Children, Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and Education and Science, with special responsibility for Children.

Mary was re-elected to the Dáil in May, 2002, taking the first seat in Dún Laoghaire, and topping the poll with 8,818 first preference votes. With this, she is the top female vote-getter (per quota) in the country. On June 6, 2002, Mary was promoted by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD to Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (with responsibility for the Information Society) and as Minister of State at the Department of Defence.

On September 29, 2004, Mary was appointed Minister for Education and Science. She was sebsequently re-elected (topping the poll) in May 2007 while also being re-appointed as Minister for Education by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD.

Following the resignation of Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil, Brian Cowen (then Táiniste and Minister for Finance) was elected Leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach. Mary was subsequently appointed Minister for Social & Family Affairs in May 2008.

Mary can be contacted at:

Office: Department of Social and Family Affairs,

            Store Street,  Dublin 1

Office: 01 7043029

Email: mary.hanafin@welfare.ie

Website: www.maryhanafin.ie

Advice Centres:

Every Monday (Excluding Bank Holidays):

10am - Resource Centre, Bakers Corner

11am - The Igo Inn, Ballybrack

12pm - Shanganagh Park House, Shankill

1:15pm - The Boylan Centre, Dún Laoghaire

Minister Mary Hanafin TD