Mary O'Rourke

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Mary O'Rourke (Irish: Máire Uí Ruairc) (born May 31, 1937), is a senior Irish politician. She was first elected as a Fianna Fáil TD in the November 1982 General Election and at each election until losing her seat in the 2002 election. She has served as Minister for Education (1987-1991), Minister for Health (1991-1992) and Minister for Public Enterprise (1997-2002). O'Rourke was deputy-leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 until 2002. She is currently the leader of Fianna Fáil in Seanad Éireann.

Mary Lenihan was born on May 31, 1937 in Athlone, County Westmeath. She was the daughter of Patrick Lenihan, a Fianna Fáil TD. She was educated at St. Peter's, Athlone, Loretto Convent, County Wicklow, University College Dublin and Maynooth. She worked as a secondary school teacher before she began her political career. O'Rourke worked in local politics on Athlone Urban District Council between 1974 and 1987 and on Westmeath County Council between 1979 and 1987. In the second general election of 1982 she was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD for the Longford-Westmeath constituency, and from 1992 for the new Westmeath constituency.

In 1987 she was appointed Minister for Education by Charles Haughey. O'Rourke and her brother, Brian Lenihan, became the first brother and sister in Irish history to serve in the same Cabinet. In the November 1991 Cabinet reshuffle, O'Rourke became Minister for Health. In February 1992 Charles Haughey resigned as Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader. O'Rourke contested the subsequent leadership election along with Michael Woods and Albert Reynolds. Reynolds easily beat the other two contenders and O'Rourke was subsequently dropped from the Cabinet. She was, however, appointed Minister of State for Labour Affairs at the Departments of Industry and Commerce, and later Enterprise and Employment.

In 1994 Bertie Ahern became party leader and he appointed O'Rourke as Deputy-Leader. Following Ahern's election as Taoiseach in June 1997 O'Rourke became Minister for Public Enterprise, holding this position until she lost her Dáil seat in the 2002 election. During this term as Minster, she became the subject of public criticism by Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary. Following the election, she was nominated to Seanad Éireann by Ahern where she became party and house leader. She was said to be disappointed when she wasn't offered the position of Cathaoirleach.

In January 2006 O'Rourke received the party nomination to stand in the next general election. She just narrowly beat her nearest rival and Dáil election running mate, the indefatigable Councillor Kevin Boxer Moran of Athlone Town Council, but caused a minor controversy when she described her political team as "working like blacks."

Two of her nephews, Brian Lenihan, Jr and Conor Lenihan, both the sons of her late brother Brian, are currently Ministers of State (junior ministers) in the government of Bertie Ahern.

[edit] Political career

Preceded by: Patrick Cooney	Minister for Education 1987–1991	Succeeded by: Noel Davern
Preceded by: Rory O'Hanlon	Minister for Health 1991–1992	Succeeded by: John O'Connell
Preceded by: Newly created office	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Labour Affairs) 1992–1994	Succeeded by: Eithne FitzGerald
Preceded by: Min. for Transport, Energy & Communications Alan Dukes	Minister for Public Enterprise 1997–2002	Succeeded by: Minister for Transport Séamus Brennan
Preceded by: Donie Cassidy	Leader of Seanad Éireann 2002–	Succeeded by: Current Incumbent

This page incorporates information from the Oireachtas Members Database