Anne Rabbitte

For the American politician, see Ann Rabbitt.

Senator
Anne Rabbitte
Rabbitte in 2016
Senator
Incumbent
Assumed office
10 December 2024
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Minister of State
2020–Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
2020–2024Health
Teachta Dála
In office
February 2016 – November 2024
ConstituencyGalway East
Personal details
Born (1973-10-11) 11 October 1973 (age 51)
Portumna, County Galway, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse
Paddy Callan
​
​
(m. 1997; died 2011)​
Children3
Alma materUniversity College Dublin
Websiteannerabbitte.ie

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 appointed to the Seanad on 10 December 2024 by Taoiseach Simon Harris.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Anne Rabbitte". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Anne Rabbitte". Government of Ireland. 2 July 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Anne Rabbitte". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Election 2016: Anne Rabbitte". RTÉ News. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Stop Digging". Broadsheet.ie. 23 April 2019. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 July 2020. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Government Ministers". Government of Ireland. 22 December 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Minister of State Appointments". MerrionStreet.ie. 1 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  9. ^ Health (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 395 of 2020). Signed on 22 September 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 15 October 2020.
  10. ^ Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 739 of 2020). Signed on 22 December 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 19 January 2021.
  11. ^ a b Raollaigh, Joe Mag (10 December 2024). "Three former TDs appointed to Seanad after losing seats".
Political offices
Preceded byas Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
2020–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Minister of State at the Department of Health
2020–2024
With: Mary Butler
Frank Feighan (2020–2022)
Hildegarde Naughton (2022–2024) 		Succeeded by