Former Fianna Fáil TD and Cabinet Minister Mary O'Rourke has passed away at the age of 87. She was first elected to the Dáil in the Longford-Westmeath constituency in November 1982. She went on to serve as Minister for Education, Health and Public Enterprise in a political career spanning four decades. Ms O'Rourke was also deputy leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2002. Taoiseach Simon Harris says Mary was a force to be reckoned with both in terms of political nous and in terms of being a magnetic personality that drew people in. Current Minister for Education Norma Foley says Mary O' Rourke showed women could and should have a place in politics:
Speaking to Shannonside News, Deputy Robert Troy said he admired Mary O'Rourke for her integrity:
