New Minister steeped in politics at young age
Her uncle and late father each served three years in national politics, and her uncle Clement was in local politics for more than 25 years.
Also active in the Kevin Barry Cumann group in University College Dublin, she was thrown into the deep end of national and local politics upon the death of father, Cathal. In 1987, aged 21, she was asked to run for his seat, when she had finished university and was going to work in Scotland.
She took the opportunity: “All our lives, we were a political family and it was just like any family business”, she told the European Database on Women in Decision Making in a 2001 interview.
It will be reassuring for farmers that agriculture figures high in her constituency work, along with fisheries, tourism and border and Northern Ireland issues.
Industry and development are also important issues in her constituency.
She has gained valuable experience of difficulties for farmers when dealing with the Farm Assist scheme of aid for low income farmers, during her 28 months stint as Minister for Social and Family Affairs.
Holding a Bachelor in Social Sciences degree, Deputy Coughlan’s training is in sociological and political studies, a good grounding for politics.
One of the more popular deputies in the House, she was appointed Secretary of the Fianna Fáil party in 1995 at the invitation of Bertie Ahern, and she is also Director of Elections in her own constituency.
She is thought to have a fairly secure seat in Donegal South-West, a useful political requirement for a Minister.
Appointed Minister for Social and Family Affairs on June 6, 2002, she had previously been Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
She was spokesperson on Educational Reform between 1995 and 1997. She was chairperson of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Irish Language between 1993 and 1995. She was a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Body between 1991 and 1992.
Ms. Coughlan was a member of County Donegal County Council between 1986 and 2001 and a member of the North Western Health Board between 1987 and 2001.
She was also a member of County Donegal Vocational Education Committee between 1986 and 1999, where she was chairperson between 1991 and 1992.
She is chairperson of the Board of Management, Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town and a member of the Board of Management of the Tourism College, Killybegs and was a member of Comhchoiste na Gaeilge (Chairperson 1993 - 1994).
She is vice-chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation. She is President of Killybegs Coast and Cliff Rescue Service.
Minister Coughlan is married to David Charlton, and they have one son and one daughter.
