Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman has re-appointed Pat Rabbitte for a second term as the chairman of Tusla, the Irish state’s child and family agency.
Rabbitte was initially appointed as chairman of the Tusla board on the 31st of December 2018, for a term of 5 years. This term just expired after Christmas, on the 31st of December 2023. Now Rabbitte has been appointed once again for a second term, which will last two years.
Under the Child and Family Agency Act of 2013, board members may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms, so he will not serve again when this term expires.
O’Gorman said that this was done to ensure “continuity of key personnel in Tusla’s governance structure.”
“I would sincerely like to thank Pat for his service to date, and for his willingness to continue to serve as Board Chairperson,” said the Green Party Minister as he announced the policy.
“Pat has helped steer Tusla through significant recent turbulent events like the COVID-19 pandemic and welcoming children from Ukraine who need the protection of this State. I want to wish him the best for his second term and I look forward to working with him over the next two years.”
This second term will conclude on the 30th of December 2025, and under law members of the Tusla board cannot serve for more than 2 consecutive terms.
Rabbitte – the former leader of the Labour Party – was a politician for 30 years, serving as a Minister and Minister of State during various coalition governments.
However, he left politics in 2016, choosing not to contest the general election that year, shortly before the Labour party proceeded to plummet electorally from 33 Dáil seats to just 7.