Party: Independent
Occupation: Sitting MEP
Education: Honorary PhD, St Mary-of-the-Woods College, Indiana, USA (2005). Mother and homemaker (since 1970).
Born: 29 September 1950
Family: Kathy has 6 sons and 3 daughters and is guardian to 2 nephews and 5 nieces.
Achievements:
Vice president of the Petitions Committee
Member of 7 Parliamentary Committees, 3 delegations and vice president of a number of inter-groups.
Irish Independent Person of the Month (2000).
Peace and Justice Award (2000).
Irish Tatler Woman of the Year Special Recognition Award (2001).
ESB/Rehab Person of the Year Award (2001).
Voted Woman's Way Celebrity Mum of the Year (2008).
Nominated Campaigning MEP of the Year by the European Parliament Magazine.
Interesting Fact:
Kathy is also chairperson of the Hope Project, an Irish charity organisation she founded in 1996, which supports people with disabilities and their families. In 2000, Kathy challenged the State to provide a primary school education for her son Jamie who has multiple disabilities. In 2001, the High Court ruled that Jamie and every person in Ireland had a constitutional right to primary education and it was based on need, not age.
Experience: General Election, Cork South Central not elected.
Committee of Transport and Tourism.
Temporary Committee of Climate Change.
Intergroup for Disability Vice President.
Intergroup for Family and Protection of Childhood Vice President.
Intergroup for Bioethics Vice President.
Special Interest Group on Carers and Caring - Founder and Chair.