Deirdre Duffy to run for Fine Gael in Dublin Central

Fine Gael has announced that Deirdre Duffy is joining Minister Paschal Donohoe on the Party’s General Election ticket in Dublin Central.

Ms Duffy, who recently served as Campaign Manager for the Together for Yes campaign, is a qualified barrister and was added to the constituency ticket on Thursday night at a meeting of Fine Gael’s Executive Council.

Speaking today (Friday), Ms Duffy said: “I am part of a generation that genuinely believes in change because we have already achieved incredible things.

“Together we brought Marriage Equality to Ireland and we repealed the Eighth Amendment. What I have learned from this experience is that the opportunities we hold to define our futures are boundless.

“I am proud we have shed many shackles of the past but we still have much more to do. What I want to do is first get elected by the constituents of Dublin Central and then work with Paschal to achieve, by the end of the next Dáil term, an Ireland which is a more equal society than that we live in today.

“From my recent role as Campaign Manager for Together for Yes, to the 15 years as a lawyer working to advance human rights, running for the Dáil is a natural next step for me to push this work to the next level.

“I’m looking forward to hitting the ground in Dublin Central and having conversations about the potential of the years ahead: delivery of free, safe and legal abortion services; real reform of policing which benefits communities; changes to ownership of our schools and hospitals and a society where gender equality is the norm rather than an aspiration,” Ms Duffy said.

Minister Paschal Donohoe added: “I am delighted to have Deirdre on board as my running mate in Dublin Central.

“Through hard work and determination Fine Gael has steadily grown support in the constituency over recent years; having worked hard to meet people’s needs and help secure their future. A seasoned campaigner, Deirdre’s track record speaks for itself. Her involvement in the Together For Yes campaign was a key component to the its success earlier this year; one which she, and we, can be immensely proud of.

“We are at a crucial point in the economic cycle and the choices that we make now will set the tone for the years ahead. Fine Gael in Government has put the right policies in place to allow our economy and society to grow in a way that builds our resilience and ensures we are well positioned for what lies ahead. Securing two seats in Dublin Central will enable us to further that work so that we can continue to improve people’s standards of living and enable us, as a country, to make the most of the opportunities that await us. We will be working together with that goal and objective clearly in mind,” Minister Donohoe said.

ENDS

About Deirdre Duffy:
· Campaign Manager for Together for YES during the 2018 referendum on the Eighth Amendment (abortion referendum) which saw a Yes vote of 66.4% prevail.
· Deputy Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) (2007 – 2017).
· Human rights expert member of the inaugural DNA Database System Oversight Committee since 2015.
· LLM in Human Rights Law and International Criminal Law from the University of Edinburgh.
· MSc in Human Rights and Politics from University College Dublin.
· BCL degree University College Cork.
· Called to the Bar in 2005.
· Former Co-Chair of Comhlámh (association of volunteers and returned development workers).
· Member of the Board of Directors of the Victims’ Rights Alliance (VRA).
· Member of the Board of Directors of Dublin Well Woman Centre.
· Member of the Board of Directors of LGBT Ireland.