1. Hildegarde Naughton was born on 1 May 1977 and is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as a Minister of State in attendance at cabinet since 2020.
22 Facts About Hildegarde Naughton
1. 2.
Hildegarde Naughton has been a Teachta Dala for Galway West since 2016.
3.
Hildegarde Naughton served as Chair of the Committee on Communications, Climate Action and the Environment from 2016 to 2020 and Mayor of Galway from 2011 to 2012.
4.
Hildegarde Naughton served as a Senator from 2013 to 2016, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.
5.
Hildegarde Naughton was born in Galway in 1977, she is from Oranmore.
6.
Hildegarde Naughton's father was a member of the Fine Gael National Executive.
7.
Hildegarde Naughton was teacher at St Patrick's Boys School in Galway.
8.
Hildegarde Naughton is a classically trained soprano, and in 2008 won the Association of Irish Musical Societies' Best Actress award for her role as Eliza Doolittle in the Galway Patrician Musical Society's production of My Fair Lady.
9.
Shortly after her appointment as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs, Hildegarde Naughton told the media she had smoked cannabis in her 20s.
10.
Hildegarde Naughton ran unsuccessfully for the Dail at the 2011 general election in Galway West.
11.
Hildegarde Naughton caused controversy when she used her casting vote as mayor to deny David Norris the right to address Galway City Council during his campaign to get a nomination for the 2011 presidential election.
12.
At the 2011 general election, Hildegarde Naughton was one of four Fine Gael candidates for the five seats in Galway West; Sean Kyne and Brian Walsh were elected, while Hildegarde Naughton and Fidelma Healy Eames were unsuccessful.
13.
On 19 July 2013, Hildegarde Naughton was appointed to the Seanad by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
14.
At the 2016 general election, Hildegarde Naughton was elected to the Dail alongside her party colleague Sean Kyne.
15.
Hildegarde Naughton was later forced to resign after it came to light that she had done the same on several occasions.
16.
At the 2020 general election, Hildegarde Naughton was re-elected to the Dail, as the sole Fine Gael TD in the five-seat constituency.
17.
In June 2020, at the formation of the 32nd government of Ireland, Hildegarde Naughton was appointed as one of three Ministers of State attending cabinet.
18.
Hildegarde Naughton was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics and Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for Postal Policy and Eircodes.
19.
From 27 April to 1 November 2021, Hildegarde Naughton was assigned additional responsibilities as Minister of State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for criminal justice during the maternity leave of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.
20.
At the 2024 general election, Hildegarde Naughton was re-elected to the Dail.
21.
At the formation of the 35th government of Ireland in January 2025, Hildegarde Naughton was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality with responsibility for disability.
22.
Hildegarde Naughton is a super junior minister, one of four Ministers of State in attendance at cabinet, but without a vote.