Carol Nolan (born 23 May 1978) is an Irish independent politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Offaly constituency since the 2024 general election, and previously from 2016 to 2020. She was a TD for the Laois–Offaly constituency from 2020 to 2024.

Early and personal life

Nolan was born in Tullamore in 1978, but she is a native of Cadamstown, County Offaly. Nolan was educated at Mary Immaculate College and NUI Galway. She was a primary school teacher for 12 years.[1] Nolan was also principal of Gaelscoil Thromaire in County Laois for three years.[2]

Political career

Sinn Féin

Before becoming a TD, she was a Sinn Féin member of Offaly County Council from 2014 to 2016, for the Birr local electoral area.[3]

In March 2018, she was suspended from Sinn Féin for three months for voting against legislation to allow for a referendum on the repeal of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, support for which had been adopted at the party's Ard Fheis.[4]

She endorsed the Cherish all the Children Equally campaign which advocated for a No vote in the 2018 abortion referendum.[5] She campaigned for the Love Both campaign which also advocated for a No vote in the referendum.

She resigned from Sinn Féin on 19 June 2018, over the party's stance on abortion, saying "I won't be supporting the legislation as my position remains the same, as a pro-life TD who is strongly opposed to abortion".[6][7]

Independent

She was re-elected as an independent TD for the Laois–Offaly constituency at the 2020 general election.[8] Nolan was a member of the Rural Group of Independent TDs in the 33rd Dail.[9]

She was re-elected as an independent TD for the Offaly constituency at the 2024 general election.[8] She joined the Regional Independents Group along with Mattie McGrath and four other government-affiliated Independents. A subsequent ruling by the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy that government-affiliated TDs cannot form a Technical group effectively stripped Nolan and McGrath of Dáil speaking time. Nolan called for reform of the Dáil Standing Orders to ensure all Independent TDs are accorded speaking time.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Profile: Carol Nolan (SF)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  2. ^ "About Me". Carol Nolan TD. Retrieved 26 April 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ "Carol Nolan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Sinn Féin TD Carol Nolan suspended after voting against abortion referendum". Journal.ie. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Republicans Supporting Cherish". Cherish all the Children Equally. 2 July 2013. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  6. ^ McCormack, Jayne. "Carol Nolan resigns from Sinn Féin over abortion stance". BBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Sinn Féin TD Carol Nolan says she will not vote for abortion law". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Carol Nolan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Laois-Offaly Independent TD Carol Nolan joins new political group". Laois Today. 13 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Offaly TD calls on Ceann Comhairle to 'ensure she is not silenced' in Dáil". Offaly Independent. 4 February 2025.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Nolan
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