Maev-Ann Wren

Last updated

Maev-Ann Wren
NationalityIrish
Alma materTrinity College Dublin
University College Dublin
GenreNon-fiction

Maev-Ann Wren is an Irish economist, journalist, author, and former special advisor to the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Roisin Shortall. [1] [2] She is the former economics editor of The Irish Times newspaper. Wren has written two books about the Irish health system and her writings have often been mentioned during Dáil and Seanad debates, and in parliamentary committee. She has been described in the Seanad as "a recognised expert on health care." [3]

Contents

Early life

Wren grew up in Rathmines and attended University College Dublin. [4] She graduated in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in history and economics; this was followed by a master's degree in economics from UCD and a PhD in economics from TCD. [5] [6] In 1978, she became the second female auditor in the history of the university's Literary and Historical Society. [7]

Career

Wren worked at The Irish Times from 1980 to 2004 where she covered economic, political and social matters and produced an award-winning series of articles. She has reported from Dublin, Belfast and the United States, and worked as a financial reporter, business features editor, economics editor, columnist, editorial writer and senior newspaper editor. She has studied and travelled in the United States on a World Press Institute fellowship, and was a Fordham University Ethics Center Fellow for 2005. [5] [8]

She won the 2001 National Media Award for newspaper analysis and comment for her October 2000 series, An Unhealthy State, on the Irish health system. The following year, she reached the short list for the 2002 National Media Award for Specialist Writer of the Year for her work on a series, States of Health, comparing Irish health care with other countries'. [8]

Her first book Unhealthy State — Anatomy of a Sick Society (2003) examined the crisis in Irish medical care, and described options for reform. Her second book, How Ireland Cares — The Case for Health Reform (2006) began life as a study of the Irish health system commissioned by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in preparation for negotiations with the government. It was written with American health economist Professor A. Dale Tussing. [9]

After leaving The Irish Times in 2004, Wren conducted independent research and graduated with a PhD in health economics from Trinity College Dublin, while continuing to contribute journalism and reports to The Sunday Business Post , Village magazine and the Economic and Social Research Institute's Quarterly Economic Commentary . [5] [8] She was formerly employed as a special advisor to the Labour Party Junior Minister Roisin Shortall (2011–2012). [2] She has worked as a researcher at the Centre for Health Policy and Management at TCD (2011–2012) and at the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin (2013), where she was a senior research officer from 2014 to her retirement in 2022. She became an adjunct associate professor at the Geary Institute, University College Dublin in 2022. [10]

Wren is a Dubliner and is married to Cormac O'Rourke; they have two daughters, Claire and Sorcha. [11] [12]

Selected works

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oireachtas</span> Parliament of the Republic of Ireland

The Oireachtas, sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the bicameral parliament of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of the president of Ireland and the two houses of the Oireachtas, a house of representatives called Dáil Éireann and a senate called Seanad Éireann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Democrats</span> Irish political party (1985–2009)

The Progressive Democrats, commonly referred to as the PDs, was a conservative liberal political party in Ireland. The party's history spanned 24 years, from its formation in 1985 to its dissolution in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivana Bacik</span> Leader of the Irish Labour Party (born 1968)

Ivana Catherine Bacik is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Leader of the Labour Party since 24 March 2022 and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Bay South constituency since winning a by-election on 9 July 2021. Bacik previously served as Leader of the Labour Party in the Seanad from 2011 to 2021, and a Senator for the Dublin University constituency from 2007 to 2021. She previously served as Deputy leader of the Seanad from 2011 to 2016.

Michael Paschal Kitt is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2011 to 2016, a Minister of State from 1991 to 1992, and from 2007 to 2009. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency from 1975 to 1977, 1981 to 2002, and 2007 to 2016. He was a Senator from 2002 to 2007, after being nominated by the Taoiseach and from 1977 to 1981 for the Administrative Panel.

Mary Elizabeth Frances Henry is an Irish former politician and medical doctor. She was an independent member of Seanad Éireann. She was elected Pro-Chancellor of the University of Dublin in 2012. By profession she is a University Professor and medical practitioner. In 1966 she married John McEntagart of Dublin, Merchant and they have three children. She is a member of the Church of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seán Haughey</span> Irish politician (born 1961)

Seán Haughey is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Bay North constituency since 2016, and previously from 1992 to 2011 for the Dublin North-Central constituency. He served as a Minister of State from 2006 to 2011 and Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1989 to 1990. He was a Senator for the Administrative Panel from 1987 to 1992.

This is a list of records relating to the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland, which consists of the President of Ireland, and two Houses, Dáil Éireann, a house of representatives whose members are known as Teachtaí Dála or TDs, and Seanad Éireann, a senate whose members are known as senators.

Mary Wallace is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister of State at the Department of Health from 2008 to 2009, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine from 2006 to 2008, and Minister of State at the Department of Justice from 1998 to 2002. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath and Meath East constituencies from 1989 to 2011. She was a Senator for the Administrative Panel from 1987 to 1989.

Dublin University is a university constituency in Ireland, which elects three senators to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas. Its electorate comprises the undergraduate scholars and graduates of the University of Dublin, whose sole constituent college is Trinity College Dublin, so it is often also referred to as the Trinity College constituency. Between 1613 and 1937 it elected MPs or TDs to a series of representative legislative bodies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rónán Mullen</span> Irish politician (born 1970)

Rónán Thomas Mullen is an Irish senator and former delegate to the Council of Europe. He is the leader of the Human Dignity Alliance, an anti-abortion political party formed in 2018. He was elected by the National University Seanad constituency in July 2007 and re-elected in 2011, 2016 and 2020. He has topped the poll in every NUI Seanad election since 2011. Mullen is a frequent media commentator on social and political topics. The first National University of Ireland senator appointed to the Council of Europe, he received international coverage for his role in defeating the controversial McCafferty Report which sought to limit the right to conscientious objection for medical staff in the case of abortions.

The 23rd Seanad was in office from 2007 to 2011. An election to Seanad Éireann, the Senate of the Oireachtas, followed the 2007 general election to the 30th Dáil on 24 May. There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels by serving politicians; 6 were elected in two university constituencies; and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach. Under the Constitution of Ireland, a general election for the Seanad was required within 90 days of the dissolution of the 29th Dáil on 30 April 2007. Polls closed on 24 July 2007, and the Taoiseach's nominees were announced by Bertie Ahern on 3 August 2007. The 23rd Seanad first met at Leinster House on 13 September 2007. The term of the 23rd Seanad was from 13 September 2007 to 20 April 2011, remaining in session until the close of poll for the 24th Seanad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Prendergast</span> Irish former politician (born 1959)

Phil Prendergast is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South constituency from 2011 to 2014, Leader of the Labour Party in the Seanad in 2011 and a Senator for the Labour Panel from 2007 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seanad Éireann</span> Upper house of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament)

Seanad Éireann is the senate of the Oireachtas, which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathryn Reilly</span> Irish politician (born 1988)

Kathryn Reilly is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and former member of Seanad Éireann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Barrett (economist)</span> Irish economist and former senator (born 1944)

Sean Declan Conrad Barrett is an Irish economist and former senator. He was a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics of Trinity College Dublin, and a Fellow of the college. In April 2011, he was elected to the Dublin University constituency of Seanad Éireann but narrowly lost his seat in 2016. In 2018 he was elected a Pro-Chancellor of the University of Dublin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katherine Zappone</span> American-born Irish politician (born 1953)

Katherine Zappone is an American-Irish independent politician who served as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs from May 2016 to June 2020. She was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-West constituency from 2016 to 2020. She previously served as a Senator from 2011 to 2016, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.

Democracy Matters is an Irish campaign group set up to campaign for the retention of Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas or parliament. It was set up to oppose the 2013 bill to abolish the Seanad introduced by the Fine Gael–Labour government. After the defeat of the bill at referendum, Democracy Matters has remained in existence to argue for reform of the Seanad and the relationship between it and Dáil Éireann, the more powerful lower house of the Oireachtas.

The 25th Seanad was in office from 2016 to 2020. An election to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas, followed the 2016 general election to the 32nd Dáil on 26 February. There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels by serving politicians, for which polling closed on 25 April; 6 were elected in two university constituencies, for which polling closed on 26 April; and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach on 27 May 2016. It remained in office until the close of poll for the 26th Seanad in March 2020.

The 26th Seanad has been in office since 2020. The 2020 Seanad election followed the 2020 general election to the 33rd Dáil on 8 February. The Constitution of Ireland required a general election for Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas, to take place no later than ninety days after the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil on 14 January 2020. There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels by serving politicians, for which polling closed on 30 March 2020; 6 were elected in two university constituencies, for which polling closed on 31 March 2020; and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach on 27 June 2020.

A by-election was held for the Seanad Éireann Dublin University constituency in Ireland in March 2022. Ballot papers were issued on 25 February and polls closed at 11 a.m. on 30 March 2022. The election was won by former army officer and whistleblower Tom Clonan.

References

  1. Appointment of Special Adviser (Minister of State at the Department of Health) Order 2011 ( S.I. No. 586 of 2011 ). Signed on 15 November 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland .Retrieved from Irish Statute Book .
  2. 1 2 Written Answers – Ministerial Staff The Oireachtas. Retrieved: 18 April 2012.
  3. Seanad Debate Archived 20 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine . Senator Ivana Bacik, 21 October 2008. Retrieved: 28 August 2010.
  4. Ruby and Silver Jubilarians UCD News, November 2003. Retrieved: 28 August 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 Biographical Sketch: Maev-Ann Wren Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Health Research Board, 2006. Retrieved: 28 August 2010.
  6. Economic and Social Research Institute Staff Details "Details". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  7. L&H book review. Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review, Spring 2006. Retrieved: 28 February 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 Visiting Lecturers: Maev-Ann Wren Archived 23 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine . Center for Ethics Education, Fordham University, New York. 2004. Retrieved: 28 February 2010.
  9. Mary Harney would do well to read this. Eilish O'Regan, Irish Independent. 2 July 2006. Retrieved: 28 February 2010.
  10. "Maev-Ann Wren". Economic and Social Research Institute. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  11. Maev-Ann Wren Archived 16 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine . New Island. Retrieved: 28 February 2010.
  12. Unhealthy State, Preface by Maev-Ann Wren. Dublin: New Island, 2003. ISBN   1-902602-88-9.

Mentions during Oireachtas debates