Mary White
Minister of State
2010–2011Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs
2010–2011Education and Skills
2010–2011Justice and Law Reform
Deputy leader of the Green Party
In office
5 October 2001 – 11 June 2011
Leader
Preceded byOffice Created
Succeeded byCatherine Martin
Teachta Dála
In office
May 2007 – February 2011
ConstituencyCarlow–Kilkenny
Personal details
Born (1948-11-24) 24 November 1948 (age 75)
Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland
Political partyGreen Party
Spouse
Robert White
​
(m. 1984)​
Children1
EducationUrsuline Convent, Waterford
Alma materTrinity College Dublin

Mary White (born 24 November 1948) is an Irish former Green Party politician who served as a Minister of State from 2010 to 2011 and Deputy leader of the Green Party from 2001 to 2011. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency from 2007 to 2011.[1]

Early and personal life

White was born in Bray, County Wicklow, educated at the Ursuline Convent, Waterford and Trinity College Dublin. At Trinity, she was a founding 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.

Political career

She was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1997 general election and 2002 general election, but was elected to Carlow County Council at the 1999 local elections. She topped the poll in the Borris local electoral area, 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, seeking to succeed 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.[2]

On 23 March 2010, as part of a reshuffle, she was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Law Reform, at the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education and Skills, with special responsibility for Equality, Human Rights and Integration.[3][4][5]

She resigned as Minister of State on 23 January 2011, when the Green Party withdrew from government.[6][7]

She lost her seat at the 2011 general election.[2] She was subsequently replaced as Deputy leader of the Green Party by Catherine Martin.

References

  1. ^ "Mary White". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Mary White". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  3. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 23 March 2010. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Killeen, Carey promoted to cabinet". RTÉ News. 23 March 2010. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  5. ^ Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 407 of 2010). Signed on 26 July 2010. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Green Party withdraws from government". RTÉ News. 23 January 2011. Archived from the original on 24 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Termination of Ministerial Appointments: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
Political offices Preceded byJohn Curranas Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister of State at the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs 2010–2011 Office vacant Preceded byConor LenihanJohn Moloneyas Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Law Reform 2010–2011 With: John Moloney Succeeded byKathleen Lynchas Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality
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