Eileen M. Hickey was a politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

.

Hickey studied at Queen's University Belfast, where she received a BSc

BSC

BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...

, MD

Doctor of Medicine

Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...

 and DPH

Professional degrees of public health

The Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health....

, before working as a civil servant at the Mater Hospital

Mater Infirmorum Hospital

The Mater Infirmorum Hospital, commonly known as The Mater is an acute hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland and serves a population of over 200,000 people. It provides services to most of North Belfast and South Antrim, reaching as far as Glengormley, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey. It also...

 in Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

. She became a member of the Board of Governors and was later President of the Ulster Medical Society

Ulster Medical Society

The Ulster Medical Society was formed in Belfast in 1862 through the amalgamation of two older societies, the Belfast Medical Society which was founded in 1806, and the Belfast Clinical and Pathological Society which was founded in 1853. The UMS publishes a quarterly journal, Ulster Medical...

.

In 1929, she was appointed clinical examiner in medicine

Medicine

Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

 at Queen's University, the first woman to hold the post. In 1945, she was appointed to the Advisory Committee for the Belfast Area under the Unemployment Act (Northern Ireland), 1934, while in 1949, she was appointed to the Irish National Health Council

National Health Council

The National Health Council is a nonprofit association of health organizations.Its members are national health-related organizations, including leading patient advocacy groups such as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the...

.

Hickey was nominated by Roman Catholic graduates of Queen's University as their candidate in the Queen's University, Belfast by-election, 1948, but was easily defeated by Samuel Irwin. She was again nominated for the Queen's University Belfast constituency at the Northern Ireland general election, 1949

Northern Ireland general election, 1949

-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1949...

 and was elected this time. She served as an independent

Independent (politician)

In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...

 Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

. While there, she was viewed as a potential ally by the Anti-Partition of Ireland League

Anti-Partition of Ireland League

The Irish Anti-Partition League was a political organisation based in Northern Ireland which campaigned for a united Ireland.-Foundation:...

 MPs.

Hickey was re-elected in 1953

Northern Ireland general election, 1953

-References:*...

 but stood down in 1958

Northern Ireland general election, 1958

-References:*-See also:*MPs elected in the Northern Ireland general election, 1958...

. A committee of the Parliament of Northern Ireland

Parliament of Northern Ireland

The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...

 concluded that her Advisory Committee post constituted an office of profit

Office of profit

An office of profit is a term used in a number of national constitutions to refer to executive appointments. A number of countries forbid members of the legislature from accepting an office of profit under the executive as a means to secure the independence of the legislature and preserve the...

under the crown, even though she never claimed or received any remuneration. This officially invalidated her elections.