Anne Rabbitte | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rabbitte in 2025 | |
| Senator | |
| Assumed office 10 December 2024 | |
| Constituency | Nominated by the Taoiseach |
| Minister of State | |
| 2020–2025 | Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth |
| 2020–2024 | Health |
| Teachta Dála | |
| In office February 2016 – November 2024 | |
| Constituency | Galway East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1973-10-11)11 October 1973 (age 52) Portumna,County Galway, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Website | annerabbitte |
Anne Rabbitte (born 11 October 1973) is an IrishFianna Fáil politician who has served as a member ofSeanad Éireann since December 2024. She was aMinister of State from July 2020 to January 2025. She previously served as aTeachta Dála (TD) for theGalway East constituency from2016 to 2024.[1][2]
She was a member ofGalway County Council from 2014 for theLoughrealocal electoral area until her election to the Dáil in 2016.[3] In May 2016, she was appointed to theFianna Fáil Front Bench, as Spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs.[4]
In April 2019, Rabbitte criticised plans to excavate the site of the formerBon Secours Mother and Baby Home inTuam, describing it as "a wilful waste of public money", and questioned if the intention was to dig up everycillín (burial ground for stillborn andunbaptised infants) in Ireland.[5]
In May 2019, Rabbitte contested theEuropean Parliament election inMidlands–North-West but was unsuccessful.[3]
Rabbitte was re-elected in Galway East at the2020 general election. Following the formation of anew government of Fianna Fáil,Fine Gael and theGreen Party, Rabbitte was appointed as a Minister of State on 1 July 2020.[6][7][8] She was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth andMinister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Disability.[9][10]
Rabbitte lost her seat at the2024 general election.[11] She was anominated member to the26th Seanad on 10 December 2024 by TaoiseachSimon Harris.[11] She contested the2025 Seanad election on theLabour Panel, but was not elected. She was a nominated member to the27th Seanad on 7 February 2025.[12]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byasMinister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality | Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 2020–2025 | Succeeded byas Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality |
| 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 |