Liz O'Donnell

Liz O'Donnell was born in Dublin. She was educated at Salesian Convent, Limerick and Trinity College Dublin where she was an honours graduate of the Law School. Prior to embarking on a political career O'Donnell was a Vice Chair of the Women's Political Association and delegate to the National Women's Council. In 1991 she was successfully elected to Dublin City Council for the Progressive Democrats for the Rathmines WARD. She served on Dublin City Council until 1994.

In November 1992 she was elected to Dáil Eireann for the Progressive Democrats, representing Dublin South. She was opposition spokesperson on Health and Social Welfare from 1992 to 1993. She was Party Whip and Justice spokesperson from 1993 to 1997. 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 Minister of State Bobby Molloy.

O'Donnell was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Overseas Development Assistance and Human Rights. She represented the Irish Government at the multi-party talks at Stormont, which culminated in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Following the resignation of Bobby Molloy she was promoted to Cabinet as Minister of State to the Government in April, 2002.

She was re-elected to the Dáil in May 2002 as TD for Dublin South.