Liz O'Donnell Biography
Liz retired from politics in 2007 and is now involved in a variety of activities including broadcasting, public affairs consultancy and advocacy work.
Public Affairs consultancy involves advice and management of government relations with clients. Liz’s experience as a TD of fifteen years and as Minister of State (97 – 2002) is of significant assistance to clients to navigate legislation and policy issues of relevance to their business.
Advocacy in this regard is vital in the context of competing demands on Government ministers and policy makers. Communications and liaison with members of the Oireachtas of all parties and in particular key members of the opposition is critical in order to highlight important policy issues.
Advice as to making presentations to Oireachtas, Committees and Ministers is all part of a familiarisation service for clients. Inevitably there is overlap with a communications strategy which is part of the overall engagement in government relations and advocacy.
Liz had a distinguished career in the Dáil that began as PD spokeswoman on Health and Social Welfare from 1992 to 1993. She served as Party Whip and Justice Spokesperson from 1993 to 1997. During this time, she tabled several important Private Members’ Bills on Criminal Justice and Law Reform.
Following the June 1997 General Election, she negotiated the Programme for the Coalition Government between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, along with her then party colleague Bobby Molloy.
- In July 1997, she was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) and Human Rights. She represented the Irish Government at the multi-party talks at Stormont, which culminated in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
As a Minister, Liz oversaw a major expansion of the ODA Budget, and was a member of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Asylum Immigration and related matters. Following the resignation of Minister of State Bobby Molloy she became Minister of State to the Government in April, 2002.
Prior to her election as a TD she was successfully elected on her first attempt to Dublin City Council as a Progressive Democrat for the Rathmines Ward in 1991, and served on the council until 1994. She was also a Vice Chair of the Women's Political Association and Delegate to the National Women’s Council.
She has a keen interest in human rights, development and justice issues, particularly the rights of minorities - especially refugees. In December 2002, she was awarded the Doolin Memorial Medal for her contribution to Overseas Development and Human Rights. She participates regularly in international conferences and in May 2003, attended and addressed the ‘Re-Imagining Ireland Conference’ in Charlottesville, Virginia. She is a regular columnist and book reviewer for The Irish Times and is also a regular panellist on TV and radio talk shows.
She was born in Dublin, educated at Salesian Convent, Limerick and is an honours graduate of the LawSchool, TrinityCollege, Dublin. After graduation she had a career as a lawyer. She is married and has two children.