24 Facts About Lynn Ruane

Lynn Ruane was born on 20 October 1984 and is an Irish politician who has served as an independent senator for the Dublin University constituency in Seanad Eireann since April 2016.

Lynn Ruane was the President of the Trinity College Dublin Students' Union from 2015 to 2016.

Lynn Ruane became pregnant at the age of 15, at which point she left school, although her guidance counsellor later convinced her to return to complete her Junior Certificate.

Lynn Ruane gave birth to her first daughter, Jordanne Jones, aged 15.

Lynn Ruane describes motherhood as having had a profound impact on her life, helping her to "ease the pain and give [her] a purpose".

In December 2015, Lynn Ruane announced her intention to contest the 2016 Seanad election in the Dublin University constituency as an independent candidate.

Lynn Ruane was elected to represent Trinity graduates in the Oireachtas on the 15th and final count, unseating incumbent Sean Barrett.

Lynn Ruane was re-elected in the 2020 Seanad election, reaching the quota on the eighth count.

In May 2017, Lynn Ruane introduced the Controlled Drugs and Harm Reduction Bill to the Seanad, which proposed removing criminal sanctions for minor drug possession.

In February 2019, Lynn Ruane introduced the Criminal Justice Bill to the Seanad, which proposed expanding access to spent convictions, broadening the number and range of convictions that can be regarded as spent.

In November 2021, Lynn Ruane introduced the Companies Bill 2021 to the Seanad, which proposed to require companies to make disclosures regarding the greenhouse gas emissions caused by their activities annually, and to cause decreases in these emissions over time.

In May 2024, Lynn Ruane co-sponsored the Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2024, which proposed restrictions on the transit and export of weapons of war from and through Ireland to Israel, and to cause inspections of planes seeking to transit weapons through the Irish territory and airspace.

In October 2024, Lynn Ruane introduced the Parole Bill 2024 to the Seanad, which proposed the appointment of special advocates to represent the interests of parole applicants where certain information is withheld by the Parole Board in its consideration of the application.

Lynn Ruane asserts that drug prohibition has never worked and in 2021 signed an open letter with over 100 Irish youth workers and former youth workers calling for an end to drug prohibition and for the legal regulation of drugs in Ireland.

Lynn Ruane is a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committees on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Justice, in addition to being vice-chair of the special Joint Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use, which was established to consider the 2023 report and recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use.

Lynn Ruane was formerly vice-chair of the special Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment, which was established to examine the repeal of Ireland's constitutional ban on abortion and recommend the legal grounds to access an abortion in Ireland.

In 2016, Lynn Ruane played a juror on the TV3 historical courtroom drama Trial of the Century.

In September 2018, Lynn Ruane published a memoir entitled People Like Me.

In 2021, Lynn Ruane contributed to a published collection of memoirs and essays called The 32: An Anthology of Irish Working-Class Voices.

In 2022, Lynn Ruane launched the podcast series Conversations on the Margins, which she created and presented.

In February 2023, Lynn Ruane presented a two-part documentary on RTE with Miriam Margolyes entitled Lady Gregory: Ireland's First Social Influencer.

In July 2023, Waiting Day, a short film written by Lynn Ruane, was premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh.

Lynn Ruane's eldest daughter, Jordanne Jones, born when Ruane was 15, is a DFCC award-winning and IFTA nominated actress.

In 2023, Lynn Ruane was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.