Early life
Wallace was born in County Dublin in 1959. She was educated at the Loreto Convents in Balbriggan and North Great Georges Street, Dublin and the Dublin Institute of Technology, College of Commerce, Rathmines where she received a diploma in Hospital and Health Services Administration. Following this she went on to work as a Personnel Executive in Blanchardstown Hospital.Political career
Wallace first held political office in 1982 when she was elected to Meath County Council. She served on that authority until 1997. In 1987 she was elected to the 18th Seanad, 18th Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel, having failed to get elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 Irish general election, 1987 general election. She was successful at the 1989 Irish general election, 1989 general election and was elected for the Meath (Dáil constituency), Meath constituency. She retained her seat at each subsequent election, moving to the new Meath East (Dáil constituency), Meath East constituency for the 2007 Irish general election, 2007 general election. Wallace remained on the backbenches until 1995 when she became Opposition Front Bench (Ireland), Opposition Spokesperson for people with disabilities and carers. When Fianna Fáil came to office in 1997 under Bertie Ahern, she was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with Minister of State for Disability, responsibility for equality and disabilities. The Disability Bill she was piloting through the Dáil was withdrawn and she was not re-appointed after the 2002 Irish general election, 2002 general election. In February 2006, Wallace rejoined the junior ministerial team as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food with special responsibility for Forestry. Her promotion caused some surprise as Seán Haughey had been the front-runner for promotion, while Wallace's name had not even been mentioned. She was reappointed to the same responsibility the following year on the formation of a new government. In May 2008, after Brian Cowen succeeded Ahern as Taoiseach, she was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Health, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for Health Promotion and Food Safety. She lost her position as Minister of State in a reshuffle on 21 April 2009, when Cowen reduced the number of Ministers of State from 20 to 15. She retired from politics at the 2011 Irish general election, 2011 general election.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallace, Mary 1959 births Living people Alumni of Dublin Institute of Technology Fianna Fáil TDs Local councillors in County Meath Members of the 18th Seanad 20th-century women members of Seanad Éireann Members of the 26th Dáil Members of the 27th Dáil Members of the 28th Dáil Members of the 29th Dáil Members of the 30th Dáil 20th-century women Teachtaí Dála 21st-century women Teachtaí Dála Ministers of State of the 28th Dáil Ministers of State of the 29th Dáil Ministers of State of the 30th Dáil Politicians from County Dublin Fianna Fáil senators Women ministers of state of the Republic of Ireland