Who is Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, the first TD elected to the 34th Dáil?
The now second-time TD received 20.9% of first preference votes in the leafy constituency, which would be seen as a heartland for Fine Gael
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Picture: RollingNews.ie
Sat, 30 Nov, 2024 - 18:36
Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter
The first TD to be elected to the 34th Dáil is Fine Gael’s Jennifer Carroll MacNeill in Dun Laoghaire.
The now second-time TD received 20.9% of first preference votes in the leafy constituency, which would be seen as a heartland for Fine Gael.
She romped home on the first count, topping the poll with 11,685 votes.
Her elevation to the Dáil however, came unexpectedly in 2020, after Maria Bailey found herself removed from the Fine Gael ticket over ‘Swinggate’. Ms Carroll MacNeill was the replacement, where she came in on the 8th count.
Despite only being a first-time TD in the previous Dáil, she was rapidly elevated up the government ranks and became a junior minister in the Department of Finance in 2022 when Leo Varadkar returned as Taoiseach.
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She received a further promotion when Simon Harris came into the top job, taking on the role as junior minister for Europe.
Ms Carroll MacNeill has been steeped in Fine Gael and prior to being an elected representative worked as an advisor to both Frances Fitzgerald and Alan Shatter.
If Fine Gael returns to high office once all the TDs elected, Ms Carroll MacNeill would be tipped for a big job, potentially rising to Cabinet.
Ms MacNeill has not hidden her aspirations to be the leader of Fine Gael, having previously said that she wants to be Ireland’s first female Taoiseach.
While that position might not open for a while, Ms Carroll MacNeill is one to watch in Fine Gael.
A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, she also has a PhD in public policy and Political Science at University College Dublin.
She is married to former rugby player Hugo MacNeill. The couple have one child.
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