[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF THE HONORABLE MARY HARNEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 18, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Honorable 
Mary Harney, a former dignitary in Ireland, who will be visiting 
Cleveland, Ohio on St. Patrick's Day.
  Ms. Harney was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway in 1953. She 
attended Trinity College, Dublin where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in 
Modern Studies. During her college career, Ms. Harney became the first 
female auditor of the College Historical Society. After graduating, she 
worked as a mathematics and economics teacher at Castleknock College in 
Dublin for a year.
  In 1977, at the age of 24, Ms. Harney was appointed to Seanad Eireann 
(Irish Senate) by the Taoiseach (Prime Minister). At the time of her 
appointment, she was the youngest person to ever be a member of the 
Seanad. Following several years of dedicated service, Ms. Harney was 
elected to the Teachta Dala (Irish Parliament) in the 1981. She served 
continuously until her retirement in 2011. During her service in the 
Teachta Dala, Ms. Harney served as Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) 
from 1997 through 2006. She also served as Minister for Enterprise, 
Trade and Employment for seven years and as Minister for Health and 
Children from 2004 until 2011. Ms. Harney was also the Leader of the 
Progressive Democrats between 1993 and 2006 and again in 2007 and 2008.
  Throughout her career, Ms. Harney has been recognized for her 
dedicated service to the Republic of Ireland. She was named the Irish 
Independent Woman of the Year in 1996 and Irish Tatler Woman of the 
Year in 2005.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in welcoming the Honorable 
Mary Harney to the City of Cleveland on St. Patrick's Day.

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