Liz McManus
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth "Liz" McManus (born 23 March 1947) is a former Irish
politician. She served as a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Wicklow constituency
from 1992 to 2011.
, Canada
. She studied Architecture
at University College Dublin
, where she shared a drawing desk with Ruairi Quinn
. McManus is an accomplished writer. She won the Hennessy, Listowel and Irish Pen awards in fiction. Her first novel "Acts of Subversion" was nominated for the Aer Lingus/Irish Times Literature Prize. McManus was also a weekly columnist with the Sunday Tribune
(1986–1992). She is married to John McManus and has four children.
. Later, she was elected to Wicklow County Council
. She helped establish a women's refuge in Bray
in 1978 and was its convenor until 1991.
McManus was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 1992 general election
. She was then a member of the Democratic Left
party. She retained her seat in every subsequent election until her retirement in 2011. Between 1994 and 1997 the Democratic Left formed a government with Fine Gael
and the Labour Party and McManus became Minister of State
for Housing and Urban Renewal. During this period she was also a member of the Northern Ireland Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.
In 1999 the Democratic Left merged with the Labour Party, and in 2002 McManus was elected as Deputy Leader
of the Labour Party. Another former Democratic Left TD Pat Rabbitte
, became leader of the party. She also became the Labour Party Spokesperson for Health.
She was the deputy leader of the Labour Party and party Spokesperson for Health
from 2002–07. Following the resignation of Pat Rabbitte
on 23 August 2007, she was acting leader of the Labour Party until September 2007 but chose not to stand for re-election as deputy leader
when a deputy leadership election was held. Joan Burton
replaced her as deputy leader. She was party spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2007–11.
She retired from politics at the next general election.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
politician. She served as a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Wicklow constituency
Wicklow (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wicklow is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
from 1992 to 2011.
Personal life
McManus was born in 1947 in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She studied Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
, where she shared a drawing desk with Ruairi Quinn
Ruairi Quinn
Ruairi Quinn is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Education and Skills since March 2011. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South East constituency. He was Minister for Finance from 1994 to 1997, and leader of the Labour Party from 1997 to 2002.-Early...
. McManus is an accomplished writer. She won the Hennessy, Listowel and Irish Pen awards in fiction. Her first novel "Acts of Subversion" was nominated for the Aer Lingus/Irish Times Literature Prize. McManus was also a weekly columnist with the Sunday Tribune
Sunday Tribune
The Sunday Tribune was an Irish Sunday broadsheet newspaper published by Tribune Newspapers plc. It was edited in its final years by Nóirín Hegarty, who changed both the tone and the physical format of the newspaper from broadsheet to tabloid. Former editors include Conor Brady, Vincent Browne,...
(1986–1992). She is married to John McManus and has four children.
Political career
She first ran for political office in 1979 when she was elected to Bray Town Council for the Sinn Féin the Workers' PartyWorkers' Party of Ireland
The Workers' Party is a left-wing republican political party in Ireland. Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970 after a split within the party, adopting its current name in 1982....
. Later, she was elected to Wicklow County Council
Wicklow County Council
Wicklow County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Wicklow in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of...
. She helped establish a women's refuge in Bray
Bray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
in 1978 and was its convenor until 1991.
McManus was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the 1992 general election
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
. She was then a member of the Democratic Left
Democratic Left (Ireland)
Democratic Left was a democratic socialist political party active in Ireland between 1992 and 1999. It came into being after a split in the Workers' Party and, after just seven years in existence, it merged into the Irish Labour Party.-Origins:...
party. She retained her seat in every subsequent election until her retirement in 2011. Between 1994 and 1997 the Democratic Left formed a government with Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
and the Labour Party and McManus became Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
for Housing and Urban Renewal. During this period she was also a member of the Northern Ireland Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.
In 1999 the Democratic Left merged with the Labour Party, and in 2002 McManus was elected as Deputy Leader
Deputy Leader
A deputy leader in the Westminster system is the second-in-command of a political party, behind the party leader. Deputy leaders often become deputy prime minister when their parties are elected to government. In opposition, deputy leaders often lead Question Time sessions when the party leader is...
of the Labour Party. Another former Democratic Left TD Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources since March 2011...
, became leader of the party. She also became the Labour Party Spokesperson for Health.
She was the deputy leader of the Labour Party and party Spokesperson for Health
Minister for Health and Children (Ireland)
The Minister for Health is the senior minister at the Department of Health in the Government of Ireland and is responsible for health care in the Republic of Ireland and related services.The current Minister for Health is James Reilly, TD...
from 2002–07. Following the resignation of Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources since March 2011...
on 23 August 2007, she was acting leader of the Labour Party until September 2007 but chose not to stand for re-election as deputy leader
Deputy Leader
A deputy leader in the Westminster system is the second-in-command of a political party, behind the party leader. Deputy leaders often become deputy prime minister when their parties are elected to government. In opposition, deputy leaders often lead Question Time sessions when the party leader is...
when a deputy leadership election was held. Joan Burton
Joan Burton
Joan Burton is an Irish Labour Party politician and the current Minister for Social Protection. She is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin West constituency....
replaced her as deputy leader. She was party spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2007–11.
She retired from politics at the next general election.