Catherine Byrne (Irish politician)


Catherine Byrne is a former Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South-Central constituency from 2007 to 2020. She served as Minister of State for Health Promotion from 2017 to 2020, and Minister of State for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy from 2016 to 2020. She was previously served as Deputy Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from 2014 to 2016 and Lord Mayor of Dublin from 2005 to 2006.

Political career

Byrne stood unsuccessfully as a candidate at the 2002 general election, she was elected on her next attempt at the 2007 general election. She was a member of Dublin City Council for the South West Inner City local electoral area. She served for a term as Lord Mayor of Dublin in 2005.
She was party Deputy Spokesperson on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with special responsibility for National Drugs Strategy from 2007 to 2010. From July 2010 to March 2011, she was Spokesperson on Older Citizens.
She was the Vice-Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party from 2014 to 2016.
Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, Byrne was appointed Minister of State for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy. Upon Leo Varadkar's appointment as Taoiseach, she was appointed also, as Minister of State for Health Promotion in June 2017. She lost her seat at the general election in February 2020.

Personal life

Byrne was leader of St Michael's Folk/Gospel Group for 15 years and has completed a two-year Lay Ministry Course in All Hallows College, and also holds a Diploma in Catering. In 2006, she was granted a coat of arms, by the Chief Herald of Ireland.