- Máire Whelan
-
Máire R Whelan SC is an Irish barrister and senior counsel who was appointed to the post of Attorney General on 9 March 2011 by President Mary McAleese on the nomination of the Taoiseach.[1] She is the first woman to hold this position in Ireland.[2]
Whelan studied politics and sociology at University College Galway, before switching to law,[2] and gained a Masters Degree from the University of London.[3] She was called to the bar in 1985, and was appointed as senior counsel in 2005.[3] She is a co-author of National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) Act 2009: A Reference Guide.[4] She has served as financial secretary of the Labour Party, which is the junior member of the 2011 coalition government formed with Fine Gael.[5] Her appointment as Attorney General caused some surprise amongst lawyers because she had a relatively low profile, owing to practising in areas of law where many cases are heard in camera.[6]
Whelan, aged 49 from Kinvara, County Galway, is married to barrister Bernard McCabe. They have one child and live in Dublin.[2][4]
References
- ^ "As It Happened - First day of 31st Dáil". RTÉ News. 9 March 2011. http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0309/dail_tracker.html. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ a b c Cullen, Paul (10 March 2011). "First female Attorney General a 'smart and able advocate'". Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0310/1224291779292.html. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Barrister's database". Bar Council of Ireland. http://www.lawlibrary.ie/members/barrister.asp?barID=399. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
- ^ a b McDonald, Dearbhail (10 March 2011). "Top lawyers welcome appointment of first ever female AG". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/top-lawyers-welcome-appointment-of-first-ever-female-ag-2573605.html. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ Collins, Stephen; McGee, Harry (8 March 2011). "Labour set for AG role as Fine Gael takes 10 ministries". Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0308/1224291591888.html. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ McDonald, Dearbhail (11 March 2011). "Whelan gets AG job over stellar FG law line-up". The Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/whelan-gets-ag-job-over-stellar-fg-law-lineup-2575554.html. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
Works
- Whelan, Máire R.; Kennedy, Mark; O Raghallaigh, Feargus (4 March 2011). National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) Act 2009: A Reference Guide. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 978-0717148400.
Legal offices Preceded by
Paul GallagherAttorney General of Ireland
2011–presentIncumbent Attorneys General of Ireland Irish Free State Ireland Patrick Lynch · Kevin Haugh · Kevin Dixon · Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh · Cecil Lavery · Charles Casey · Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh · Thomas Teevan · Aindrias Ó Caoimh · Patrick McGilligan · Aindrias Ó Caoimh · Colm Condon · Declan Costello · John Kelly · Anthony J. Hederman · Peter Sutherland · Patrick Connolly · John L. Murray · Peter Sutherland · John Rogers · John L. Murray · Harry Whelehan · Eoghan Fitzsimons · Dermot Gleeson · David Byrne · Michael McDowell · Rory Brady · Paul Gallagher · Máire Whelan
Categories:- Living people
- Irish barristers
- Attorneys General of Ireland
- People from County Galway
- Alumni of University College Galway
- Alumni of the University of London
- Irish law biography stubs
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