Mary White (Green Party politician)

Mary White (born 24 November 1948) is a former Irish Green Party politician who served as Minister of State for Equality, Human Rights and Integration 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]

Mary White
Minister of State for Equality, Human Rights and Integration
In office 23 March 2010 – 23 January 2011
Taoiseach	Brian Cowen
Preceded by	John Moloney
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Deputy Leader of the Green Party
In office 5 October 2001 – 11 June 2011
Leader	Trevor Sargent John Gormley
Preceded by	Office Created
Succeeded by	Catherine Martin
Teachta Dála
In office May 2007 – February 2011
Constituency	Carlow–Kilkenny
Personal details
Born	24 November 1948 Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Green Party
Spouse(s)	Robert White (m. 1984)
Children	1
Education	Ursuline Convent, Waterford
Alma mater	Trinity College, Dublin

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, 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.[2]

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 Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education and Skills with special responsibility for Equality, Human Rights and Integration.[3]

She resigned as Minister of State for Equality, Human Rights and Integration on 23 January 2011, when the Green Party withdrew from government.[4]

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. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
2. "Mary White". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
3. "Killeen, Carey promoted to cabinet". RTÉ News. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
4. "Green Party withdraws from government". RTÉ News. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.