Ellen O’Malley Dunlop Campaigns To Be The First Woman In 35 Years To Be Elected To The NUI Seanad Panel

Human rights campaigners, leading business figures, serving and former Ministers, health experts, children’s rights leaders and many others have now declared their support for the campaign by Ellen O’Malley become the first woman in 35 years to be elected onto the NUI panel in the Seanad.
Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Justice and Equality; Gemma Hussey, Former TD, Senator and Minister for Education, Labour, and Social Welfare; Katherine Zappone, former Senator and Independent TD for Dublin South-West; Louise O’Neill, author ofAsking For It; Louise Phelan, Vice President of Global Operations for PayPal, EMEA; Gráinne Healy, campaigner and chairwoman of Marriage Equality; Tom O’Dowd, Professor of Medicine at Trinity; Prof. Hannah McGee, Dean of Medicine, RCSI, , and Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection are some of the many people backing Ellen.
The former CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre says she is ‘honoured and humbled’ by the support her campaign is gathering right across the country. Ellen has identified Equality, Education and Mental Health as key issues which the next Seanad must address.
Endorsing the campaign Grainne Healy of Marriage Equality said “Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop will bring a sterling and passionate voice to the Seanad, echoing expertise developed at the front-line of services with and for others, and her capacity to negotiate change with all stakeholders. Her Independent woman’s voice must be heard soon within the Seanad chamber.”
“Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop is a courageous, brave, energetic and determined woman.” Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Justice and Equality said. “She is committed to human rights, who will ensure that we deliver the very best services to the victims of violence and to the vulnerable in our society.”
“Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop has been a friend of mine for many years. She is a terrific businesswoman and an empathetic leader.” Louise Phelan, Vice President of Global Operations for PayPal, EMEA, said. “She has a positive vision of what Ireland should look like, not just as an economy, but as a society. She would bring compassion and common sense to the Seanad and I know she would work collaboratively, cross-party, on a platform of reform.”
 “Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop will bring a sterling and passionate voice to the Seanad, echoing expertise developed at the front-line of services with and for others, and her capacity to negotiate change with all stakeholders.” Katherine Zappone, Independent TD for Dublin South-West, said. “I heartily endorse her Seanad campaign and hope that her Independent woman’s voice will be heard soon within the Seanad chamber.”
“In her 25 years as a Psychotherapist and as CEO of the Rape Crisis Centre, Ellen has highlighted the need for services for men as well as women, especially in the area of mental health and suicide prevention.” Tom O’Dowd, Professor of General Medicine, Trinity College, said, “Unfortunately every family in Ireland has experience of poor mental health and more and more families have to cope with the life-long effects of suicide. We need a strong advocate for mental health who knows how to bring about change. I believe Ellen will bring a wealth of clinical and executive experience to the Seanad and will know how to secure additional resources for these services as well as the necessary legislative changes.”
Ellen is currently canvassing support right across the country and has embarked on a nationwide tour to meet voters and engage with them on priorities for the next Oireachtas. She adds “The thirst for change is evident everywhere I go – and it is clear to me people want a new way of doing politics and strong independent voices must be part of that change.”
Notes:
Ellen is also currently serving on the board of:
Gaisce, the President’s Award; The O’Malley Clan Association.
Ellen is outgoing CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and was previously a member of the boards of:
The National Women’s Council of Ireland; The Task Force for the Child and Family Agency (Tusla); The Irish Council for Psychotherapy; The European Association for Psychotherapy; The Family Therapy Association of Ireland. The National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women (VAW); The Irish Observatory of VAW.

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