Kathleen Funchion

Kathleen Funchion
Funchion in 2020
Member of the European Parliament
Assumed office
17 July 2024
ConstituencySouth
Chair of the Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration
In office
15 September 2020 – 17 July 2024
Preceded byAlan Farrell
Chair of the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
In office
4 April 2016 – 15 September 2020
Preceded byJoe McHugh
Succeeded byFergus O'Dowd
Teachta Dála
In office
February 2016 – 17 July 2024
ConstituencyCarlow-Kilkenny
Personal details
Born (1981-04-22) 22 April 1981 (age 43)
Callan, Kilkenny, Ireland[1]
Political party
Spouse
(m. 2007; div. 2013)
Children2
Alma materAmerican College Dublin

Kathleen Funchion (born 22 April 1981)[1][2] is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the South constituency since July 2024. She was previously a Teachta Dála (TD) for Carlow–Kilkenny from the 2016 general election to 2024.[3] She was Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Children, Disabilities, Integration and Equality.

She was a member of Kilkenny Borough Council from 2009 to 2014 and Kilkenny County Council from 2014 to 2016.[4] Prior to her election to the Dáil, she worked with the SIPTU trade union.[5]

She contested the 2007 general election and the 2011 general election in Carlow-Kilkenny, and the 2009 European Parliament election in East. She was elected to the 32nd Dáil for Carlow-Kilkenny at the 2016 general election, taking the third seat. From 2016 to 2020, she served Chair of the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.[2] She was re-elected at the 2020 general election, taking the first seat. In September 2020, she was appointed as chair of the Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration in the 33rd Dáil.

Funchion was a Sinn Féin candidate for the South constituency at the 2024 European Parliament election.[6] Funchion received 7.35% of the first preference votes, and was elected on the 20th count, taking the fifth seat.[7] She took office on 17 July 2024.[8]

  1. ^ a b Tim Ryan (2020). Nealon's Guide to the 33rd Dáil and 26th Seanad and the 2019 Local and European Elections. Grand Canal Publishing.
  2. ^ a b Keena, Colm (28 February 2016). "Profile: Kathleen Funchion (SF)". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Kathleen Funchion". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Kathleen Funchion". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Kathleen Funchion". Sinn Féin. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Candidates for European Election". Cork City Returning Officer. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  7. ^ "All Irish MEPs elected as count closes in Midlands-North-West". RTÉ News. 14 June 2024. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  8. ^ Cunningham, Paul (17 June 2024). "The loopholes to avoiding four by-elections". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.