Fianna Fáil’s Anne Rabbitte, who lost her Dáil seat in Galway East just over 2 months ago, has been appointed to the Seanad by the Taoiseach.
Rabbitte, who served as Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as part of the last Government, failed to secure enough votes in last November’s general election to return to the Dáil. However, she will now be returning to the Oireachtas as a Senator thanks to Taoiseach Micheál Martin handing her a seat.
Under the Constitution, the Taoiseach can appoint 11 members to the Seanad. The two main coalition partners, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, have agreed to split these seats, with Fianna Fáil getting six due to their stronger performance in last year’s general election, while Fine Gael will take five.
In addition to Rabbitte’s return, RTÉ journalist Evanne Ní Chuilinn is set to become a Fine Gael Senator.
Speaking today, Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said he was “delighted” that she had decided to join his party.
“She is a fantastic addition to the Fine Gael team and this is a very exciting day for Evanne, her family, but also for the Fine Gael party,” Harris said.
Of the 11 new Senators appointed, 7 are women (63.6%), which tracks with the Taoiseach’s indication last week that he would be aiming to appoint more women to the Seanad in the name of increasing gender equality.
The full list of Seanad appointees is as follows:
(FF)
Dee Ryan
Alison Comyn
Anne Rabbitte
Lorrainne Clifford Lee
Imelda Goldsboro
Joe Flaherty
(FG)
Nikki Bradley
Manus Boyle
Noel O’Donovan
Gareth Scahill
Evanne Ní Chuilinn