Catherine Byrne (Irish politician)

Catherine Byrne (born 26 February 1956) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Minister of State for Health Promotion from 2017 to 2020, Minister of State for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy from 2016 to 2020 and Lord Mayor of Dublin from 2005 to 2006. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-Central constituency from 2007 to 2020.[1]

Catherine Byrne
Byrne in 2016
Minister of State for Health Promotion
In office
20 June 2017  27 June 2020
TaoiseachLeo Varadkar
Preceded byMarcella Corcoran Kennedy
Succeeded byFrank Feighan
Minister of State for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy
In office
19 May 2016  27 June 2020
TaoiseachEnda Kenny
Leo Varadkar
Preceded byAodhán Ó Ríordáin
Succeeded byFrank Feighan
Lord Mayor of Dublin
In office
5 June 2005  6 June 2006
Preceded byMichael Conaghan
Succeeded byVincent Jackson
Teachta Dála
In office
May 2007  February 2020
ConstituencyDublin South-Central
Personal details
Born (1956-02-26) 26 February 1956
Bluebell, Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse(s)Joesph Byrne (m. 1987)
Children5
Alma materDublin Institute of Technology

Political career

Byrne stood unsuccessfully as a candidate at the 2002 general election, she was elected on her next attempt at the 2007 general election. She was a member of Dublin City Council for the South West Inner City local electoral area. She served for a term as Lord Mayor of Dublin in 2005.[2]

She was party Deputy Spokesperson on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with special responsibility for National Drugs Strategy from 2007 to 2010. From July 2010 to March 2011, she was Spokesperson on Older Citizens.[3]

She was the Vice-Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from 2014 to 2016.[4]

Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, Byrne was appointed Minister of State for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy. Upon Leo Varadkar's appointment as Taoiseach, she was appointed also, as Minister of State for Health Promotion in June 2017. She lost her seat at the general election in February 2020.

Personal life

Byrne was leader of St Michael's Folk/Gospel Group for 15 years and has completed a two-year Lay Ministry Course in All Hallows College, and also holds a Diploma in Catering.[5] In 2006, she was granted a coat of arms, by the Chief Herald of Ireland.[6]

References

  1. "Catherine Byrne". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  2. "Catherine Byrne". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  3. "Bruton & Noonan return to Fine Gael frontbench". RTÉ News. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  4. "We won't form government at any cost - Fine Gael". RTÉ News. 3 March 2016.
  5. "Catherine Byrne TD". Fine Gael website. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  6. "Grant of Arms: Catherine Byrne". National Library of Ireland. 10 November 2006. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Michael Conaghan
Lord Mayor of Dublin
2005–2006
Succeeded by
Vincent Jackson
Oireachtas
Preceded by
Gay Mitchell
(Fine Gael)
Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Dublin South-Central
20072020
Succeeded by
Patrick Costello
(Green Party)
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