Minister Coughlan Meets with Con Colbert Cumann

30.11.2006

Minister Mary Coughlan visited UL on Thursday November 30^th. She viewed a small taste of the research in food science taking place on campus. She learned about the frightening levels of salt occurring in processed food before table salt is even added. The UL research (led by Dr. Martin Wilkinson) is part of on-going research work on the topic that she has sponsored to the tune of €3 million this year. The Minister was received by Acting President John O’Connor at Plassey House.

Minister Coughlan and her adviser (esteemed iar Leas-Cathaoirleach Ógra - Michael Shovlin) were glad of the opportunity to sit down and have an informal chat with members of the Cumann after a period in Plassey House. The minister shook hands with each member in attendance and casually asked “what’s going on around here then?” She asked each member where they were from and was delighted to find we had a member from the North-West Region in Brian Fitzpatrick from Sligo. Minister Coughlan took an interest in each member’s constituency and had a compliment to pay to a colleague in each. She light-heartedly reminded Killarney’s Máire O’Donoghue that “we need more tourists up our end of the country too, you should share them!”

The minister told how being in the cabinet takes a lot of getting used to: There is so much travel involved that at times she hardly sees her two young kids and husband. The amounts of travel involved make it difficult to be at home as much as she would like. She does try to keep Sunday as a family day but being a Minister in such a busy department; attending meetings, clinics and functions in her constituency of Donegal South-West, even that has to be sacrificed sometimes.

Having graduated from UCD with a degree in Social Science (including politics) in October 1986, Minister Coughlan was first elected to Dáil Éireann in February 1987 and at each subsequent election. Her motivation to become involved in politics was initially a family one, with both her uncle and subsequently her father having been TDs and, as a result, her family having been so heavily involved in the party. Minister Coughlan’s view on politics is one of making change, making a difference and bettering society in the true republican spirit that is central to Fianna Fail’s own ideology and raison d’etre.

The Con Colbert Cumann wishes to sincerely thank Minister Coughlan and Michael Shovlin for the hour taken from their busy schedule to meet with members.

Ar Aghaidh le Fianna Fáil