Mary Elizabeth Banotti (born 29 May 1939) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician.
[edit] Early life and education
Mary O'Mahony was born in Dublin. She is a sister of the former Cabinet Minister Nora Owen and a grand-niece of the Irish rebel Michael Collins.
[edit] Career
Following her education she worked as a nurse in North America, England, Italy and Africa[1] before joining Irish Distillers as an occupational health nurse and Industrial Welfare Officer in 1972. She is also divorced for many years from her Italian husband.
Between 1980 and 1984 she presented a weekly programme on social welfare rights and information on RTÉ television. Banotti unsuccessfully contested the Seanad Éireann elections of 1983 and the Dublin Central by-election the same year.[2]
[edit] Politics
In 1984 she was elected to the European Parliament,[1] representing Fine Gael in the Dublin constituency. She retained her seat until her retirement at the 2004 European elections.[1] She was Fine Gael's candidate in the 1997 presidential election,[1] coming second to Fianna Fáil's Mary McAleese. In 1999, She also was the UNFPA's Goodwill Ambassador on reproductive health.[1]
Mary Banotti is currently the Honorary President of Health First Europe, a memember of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, and a member of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems' board.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f "Board". IFES. 2009. http://www.ifes.org/board.html. Retrieved Oct. 16, 2009.
- ^ "Dublin Central by-election, November 1983". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1982novB&cons=85%20&ref=107. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
[edit] External links
