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Anne Rabbitte | |
---|---|
Senator | |
Assumed office 10 December 2024 | |
Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
Minister of State | |
2020– | Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth |
2020–2024 | Health |
Teachta Dála | |
In office February 2016 – November 2024 | |
Constituency | Galway East |
Personal details | |
Born | Portumna, County Galway, Ireland | 11 October 1973
Political party | Fianna Fáil |
Spouse |
Paddy Callan
(m. 1997; died 2011) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | University College Dublin |
Website | annerabbitte |
Anne Rabbitte (born 11 October 1973) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as a member of Seanad Éireann since December 2024 and as a Minister of State since July 2020. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency from 2016 to 2024.[1][2]
She was a member of Galway County Council from 2014 for the Loughrea local electoral area until her election to the Dáil in 2016.[3] In May 2016, she was appointed to the Fianna Fáil Front Bench, as Spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs.[4]
In April 2019, Rabbitte criticised plans to excavate the site of the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, describing it as "a wilful waste of public money", and questioned if the intention was to dig up every cillín (burial ground for stillborn and unbaptised infants) in Ireland.[5]
In May 2019, Rabbitte contested the European Parliament election in Midlands–North-West but was unsuccessful.[3]
Rabbitte was re-elected in Galway East at the 2020 general election. Following the formation of a new government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, Rabbitte was appointed as a Minister of State on 1 July 2020.[6][7][8] She was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility as Minister of State for Disability.[9][10]
Rabbitte lost her seat at the 2024 general election.[11] She was nominated to the Seanad on 10 December 2024 by Taoiseach Simon Harris.[11] She is contesting the 2025 Seanad election on the Labour Panel.