Mary Coughlan
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See also the famous Irish Jazz-Singer Mary Coughlan (singer).
Mary Coughlan (born May 1965), is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. She is currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for Donegal South West and Minister for Agriculture & Food. Coughlan has previously served as Minister for Social & Family Affairs (2002-2004)
Mary Coughlan was born in Donegal town and was educated at the Ursuline Convent in Sligo and at University College Dublin. Before she entered politics she worked as a social worker. In 1987 she was elected to Dáil Éireann for the first time, the youngest Fianna Fáil TD ever. She is a daughter of the late Fianna Fáil member Cathal Coughlan (TD 1983-1986) and a niece of the late Clement Coughlan (TD 1981-1983).
Mary Coughlan has served on a number of committees including a Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport & Recreation, Chairperson of the Joint Committee on the Irish Language and she also served as a Member of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body. She has also been involved in local politics as a member of Donegal County Council since 1986. She was Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Educational Reform between 1995 and 1997 and was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht & the Islands In February 2001. Following the General Election in 2002 Coughlan was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister for Social & Family Affairs. In the Cabinet reshuffle of 2004 Coughlan became Ireland's first female Minister for Agriculture & Food
| Preceded by: Dermot Ahern | Minister for Social & Family Affairs 2002–2004 | Succeeded by: Séamus Brennan |
| Preceded by: Joe Walsh | Minister for Agriculture & Food 2004– | Succeeded by: Current Incumbent |