Catherine Ardagh, a Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South-Central, is expected to be appointed Minister of State at the Department of Justice. She previously worked as a solicitor and was elected to the Dáil in the 2024 general election. She has spoken publicly on disability issues and on school places for children with additional needs. Ardagh is the daughter of late Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ardagh and is a Trinity graduate. She became a Senator in 2016 and narrowly missed winning a Dáil seat in 2020. Her appointment follows Niall Collins moving to the Department of Agriculture after Michael Healy-Rae stepped down in April following a Dáil confidence motion linked to the fuel protests. The appointment is expected to be formally announced after a cabinet meeting and is expected to help address gender imbalance in ministerial appointments.
"Fianna Fail TD, Catherine Ardagh, is to be appointed to the position Minister of State at the Department of Justice. The Dublin South-Central TD practiced as a solicitor before being elected to the Dail in the 2024 general election. She has been outspoken on issues around disability and school places for children with additional needs."
"She will replace the Fianna Fail TD, Niall Collins, who is to be appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture - replacing Independent Michael Healy Rae. The Kerry TD had stepped down from the role in April after siding with the opposition in a Dail confidence motion arising out of the fuel protests."
"The appointment is expected to be formally announced following an incorporeal meeting of cabinet. Her appointment will partly address the gender imbalance in ministerial appointments. The Taoiseach was criticised last year when he appointed six women out 23 ministers of state. Deputy Ardagh was seen at the time as one of the many suitably qualified women TDs who had been overlooked for promotion."
Read at Irish Independent
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