Mary White (Green Party politician)
Encyclopedia
Mary White is an Irish
Green Party
politician. She was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Carlow–Kilkenny
constituency from 2007 to 2011, and served as a Minister of State
from 2010 to 2011.
, educated at the Ursuline
Convent
, Waterford
and Trinity College
, Dublin. At Trinty she was a founder member of the English Society and received a Pink (award) for sporting excellence. She is married to Robert White and has one daughter. They have lived in Borris, County Carlow
since 1987. She has co-edited a book on walking in the Blackstairs Mountains
with Joss Lynam and authored another, Environment, Mining and Politics. She is also a keen hill-walker, linguist
and organic grower
.
and 2002 general election
but was elected to Carlow County Council
at the 1999 local elections
. She topped the poll in Borris, and was re-elected at the 2004 local elections, serving until 2007. She also ran for Seanad Éireann
in 2002 but only received 35 votes.
In 2004 she was the Green Party candidate at the European Parliament election
for the East constituency, replacing outgoing Green MEP
Nuala Ahern
. She secured 5.6% of the first preference vote but was not elected.
She was elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 2007 general election making her the first female TD elected for the Green party and for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency.
Currently she is the Deputy Leader
of the Green Party. On 23 March 2010, following a cabinet reshuffle, she was appointed as Minister of State
at the Department of Justice and Law Reform, the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of Education and Skills with special responsibility for Equality
and Human Rights, and Integration.
She resigned as Minister for State on 23 January 2011 when the Green Party withdrew from government.
She lost her seat at the 2011 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,...
Green Party
Green Party (Ireland)
The Green Party is a green political party in Ireland. It was founded as the Ecology Party of Ireland in 1981 by Dublin teacher Christopher Fettes. The party became the Green Alliance in 1983 and in 1987 was renamed to its current title in English...
politician. She was 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 Carlow–Kilkenny
Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency from 2007 to 2011, and served as a 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....
from 2010 to 2011.
Early and personal life
White was born in County WicklowCounty Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, educated at the Ursuline
Ursulines
The Ursulines are a Roman Catholic religious order for women founded at Brescia, Italy, by Saint Angela de Merici in November 1535, primarily for the education of girls and the care of the sick and needy. Their patron saint is Saint Ursula.-History:St Angela de Merici spent 17 years leading a...
Convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
, Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
and Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, Dublin. At Trinty she was a founder member of the English Society and received a Pink (award) for sporting excellence. She is married to Robert White and has one daughter. They have lived in Borris, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
since 1987. She has co-edited a book on walking in the Blackstairs Mountains
Blackstairs Mountains
The Blackstairs Mountains run roughly north/south along the border between County Carlow and County Wexford in Ireland.-See also:*List of mountains in Ireland...
with Joss Lynam and authored another, Environment, Mining and Politics. She is also a keen hill-walker, linguist
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
and organic grower
Organic horticulture
Organic horticulture is the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants by following the essential principles of organic agriculture in soil building and conservation, pest management, and heirloom variety preservation....
.
Political career
She was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1997 general electionIrish general election, 1997
The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
and 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
but was elected to Carlow County Council
Carlow County Council
Carlow County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Carlow 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 Mayor...
at the 1999 local elections
Irish local elections, 1999
The 1999 Irish local elections were held in all the counties, cities and towns of Ireland on 10 June 1999, on the same day as the European elections.- Results :18 Workers' Party councillors had left the party in 1992 upon the creation of Democratic Left...
. She topped the poll in Borris, and was re-elected at the 2004 local elections, serving until 2007. She also ran for Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
in 2002 but only received 35 votes.
In 2004 she was the Green Party candidate at the European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2004 (Ireland)
The 2004 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 2004 European Parliament election. The voting was held on Friday, 11 June 2004. The election coincided with the 2004 local elections...
for the East constituency, replacing outgoing Green MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
Nuala Ahern
Nuala Ahern
Nuala Ahern is a former Irish Green Party member of the European Parliament representing Leinster in Ireland from 1994–2004. Ahern became active in politics in 1991 becoming elected to Wicklow County Council...
. She secured 5.6% of the first preference vote but was not elected.
She was 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 2007 general election making her the first female TD elected for the Green party and for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency.
Currently she is the 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 Green Party. On 23 March 2010, following a cabinet reshuffle, she was appointed as 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....
at the Department of Justice and Law Reform, the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of Education and Skills with special responsibility for Equality
Minister of State (with special responsibility for Equality)
The Minister of State for Disability, Equality and Mental Health is a junior ministerial post in the Departments of Justice and Equality and Health of the Government of Ireland. The Minister works together with the senior Ministers in these departments and has special responsibility for all...
and Human Rights, and Integration.
She resigned as Minister for State on 23 January 2011 when the Green Party withdrew from government.
She lost her seat at the 2011 general election.