Mary Coughlan (politician)

Mary Coughlan (politician)

Mary Coughlan (born 28 May 1965) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as the Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) of Ireland and as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal South–West constituency from 1987–2011. During her career in government, she held the Cabinet positions of Tánaiste (2008–11), Minister for Health and Children (2011), Minister for Education and Skills (2010–11), Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (2008–10), Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (2004–08), and Minister for Social and Family Affairs (2002–04). She lost her Dáil seat in the 2011 general election.