Emer Higgins | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Higgins in 2024 | |
| Minister of State | |
| 2025– | Children, Disability and Equality |
| 2025 | Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation |
| 2024–2025 | Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2020 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Mid-West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1986, aged 39–40 years Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
Emer Higgins (born 1986)[1][2] is an IrishFine Gael politician who has served as aMinister of State since 2024, and aTeachta Dála (TD) for theDublin Mid-West constituency since the2020 general election.[3][4]
Higgins attended Holy Family Community School inRathcoole, County Dublin.
Higgins attendedUniversity College Dublin and was a member of its students' union. She graduated with an Honours Degree in Economics and Sociology, and is now a member of its Governing Authority.[4][2]
Higgins worked for a period of five years as an assistant toFrances Fitzgerald from 2009 to 2013.[5]
Higgins was co-opted as a member ofSouth Dublin County Council in 2011 and continued as a councillor until she was elected a TD in 2020.[6] She also continued to work as chief of staff of global operations forPayPal from 2013 to 2020.
Higgins served as leader of the Fine Gael group on South Dublin County Council and as Chair of the Land Use, Planning and Transport SPC Strategic Policy Committee.
In 2019, Higgins was the Fine Gael candidate at the2019 Dublin Mid-West by-election where she was beaten by theSinn Féin candidateMark Ward.[7]
In November 2019, Higgins apologised for an incident in 2014, in which she delivered a letter to her constituents where she expressed "delight" over cancelled plans for accommodation forIrish Travellers inNewcastle, County Dublin.[8]
At the2020 general election, Higgins was one of two Fine Gael candidates inDublin Mid-West and was elected to one of four seats in the constituency.[9][10] Following Higgins's election to the Dáil, Shirley O'Hara was co-opted to her seat onSouth Dublin County Council.[11]
In May 2022, Higgins was criticised on social media for her "months-long campaign" and work withSimon Coveney to renameAn Post's Passport Express service as Post Passport, as it was not quick enough. Critics described her video announcing the change as "tone deaf" and asked whether there were not more important issues for elected representatives to deal with.[12]
On 10 April 2024, Higgins was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail.[13][14]
On 30 June 2024, Higgins announced that she would be askingDublin City Council to pause the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan. The move followed public criticism of the plan byIbec and the Dublin City Traders Alliance but faced criticism fromMinister for TransportEamon Ryan and from several Dublin City councillors as well as advocacy groupsI BIKE Dublin and the Dublin Commuter Coalition.[15][16] Her intervention was described by some councillors as "inappropriate", an "outrageous overreach" and an instance "of big business dictating to the city",[17] and byIvana Bacik, the leader of the Labour Party as "a really inappropriate intervention by a junior minister seeking it seems to derail the traffic plan agreed for Dublin City Council by councillors”.[18][19]
On 29 January 2025, Higgins was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment.[20]
In November 2025, Higgins was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.[21] She was also made asuper junior minister, one of fourMinisters of State in attendance at cabinet, but without a vote.[22]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 2024–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Jan.–Nov. 2025 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality 2025–present | Incumbent |