Local newspaper editor and founder of the Positive Action group, Jane Mullins, has announced she is to contest the general election for the Progressive Democrats in the three-seat Kildare South constituency. Miriam Donohoe, Political Staff, reports.
A native of Newbridge, Ms Mullins - editor of the Kildare Post - represented thousands of women infected with Hepatitis C through the blood product Anti-D Immunoglobulin through Positive Action in 1994.
Fianna Fáil has two seats in Kildare South, one held by Minister of State SeáPower and the other by TD Seán Ó Fearghail. The third seat is held by Labour's Jack Wall.
The announcement of Ms Mullins's candidacy took parties by surprise yesterday and is seen as a coup for the PDs because of her high profile in the area.
She served as chairwoman of the group from 1994 to 1999 and led the successful negotiations for a statutory compensation scheme for those infected and their families.
The Positive Action campaign also led to the establishment of the Finlay tribunal of inquiry and a healthcare package.
Married to RTÉ agriculture correspondent, Joe O'Brien, and mother of two daughters, Ms Mullins was awarded a national Person of the Year award for her work with Positive Action in 1997. She was appointed to an expert group in the Department of Health by then minister for health, Brian Cowen, in September 1997. In 2004 she was appointed to the board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service Board.
Progressive Democrat leader, Tánaiste Michael McMcDowell, said the party was targeting Kildare South as a winnable seat. Ms Mullins "brings a wealth of experience both at local and national level", he added
Senator John Dardis contested the 2002 general election for the Progressive Democrats in the constituency but recently indicated he would not go forward as a candidate in this election.
Ms Mullins is stepping down as editor of the Kildare Post to go forward to the selection convention in Newbridge on Thursday, April 12th, where she will be selected unopposed.