# Catherine Ardagh

Catherine Ardagh (born 20 September 1982) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin South-Central since November 2024. She previously served as a Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel from 2016 to 2024 and Leader of Fianna Fáil in the Seanad from 2016 to 2020.

## Political career
### County Councillor

Ardagh served as a member of Dublin City Council from 2014 to 2016. In April 2014, she accused Fianna Fáil of "failing women", highlighting that only 17% of its candidates in the 2014 Irish local elections were female—falling below the party’s own 33% target. She criticized the party’s "macho, rural mindset" and called for measures to encourage female candidates.

### Senator

Ardagh unsuccessfully contested the Dublin South-Central constituency in the 2016 and 2020 general elections. During the 2020 election, she came within 35 votes of securing a seat. She contested the 2020 election 3 weeks after giving birth to her twin sons.
In December 2019, an RTÉ investigation revealed that Ardagh, Fianna Fáil's leader in the Seanad, did not participate in 68 out of 120 voting days where she was recorded as present in Leinster House between June 2016 and July 2019. Ardagh received her full Travel and Accommodation Allowance (TAA), totalling approximately €13,500 from 2016 to 2018, and stated that she contributed to Seanad debates as part of her leadership responsibilities. She attributed her missed votes, to constituency meetings connected to her selection as a general election candidate, despite Senators not officially representing constituencies. Ardagh also noted that her pregnancy and associated medical complications affected her attendance in 2019. When questioned about whether her legal work as a solicitor might explain the missed votes, she declined to comment. She emphasized that she participated in formal votes when required, but added that these votes were less frequent due to the confidence and supply agreement between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Ardagh was the Fianna Fáil Seanad spokesperson on Social Protection. She was re-elected as a Senator at the 2020 Seanad election.
In February 2021, Catherine Ardagh publicly shared her physical challenges with undergoing five rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF), which led to the birth of her twin sons. She criticized the high cost of treatment, which she and her husband financed over two and a half years, and advocated for free IVF in public hospitals. In the Seanad, Ardagh called for greater State support for couples facing fertility challenges, advocating for free IVF in public hospitals. She emphasised that many couples cannot afford even a single cycle, often remortgaging homes or delaying major life decisions to cover the costs. She supported changes to the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2024 to make this care accessible.
In October 2024, Ardagh stated that her family faced significant challenges securing a school placement for her autistic son. Despite attending an early intervention class at Stratford National School, all plans to transition the class to a junior infants group were denied, leaving her uncertain about his educational future. Ardagh criticized the lack of engagement from the school and highlighted the stress faced by parents of children with disabilities, describing it as deeply isolating. She urged Ireland to adopt a more ambitious approach to special education, emphasising that investment in such services benefits society as a whole.

### Teachta Dála

In July 2024, Ardagh was selected to contest the next general election for the Dublin South-Central constituency. At the 2024 general election, Ardagh was elected to the Dáil.

## Political views

In 2020 Ardagh advocated for a State-funded crèche system to support working mothers, describing it as a sensible economic and social investment, though it was not included in Fianna Fáil's manifesto.
Ardagh has called herself an opponent of NIMBYism, stating that it must be defeated to address housing shortages. Ardagh believes public services should be prioritised over tax cuts.

## Personal life

Ardagh is the daughter of Seán Ardagh, who served as TD for Sublin South-Central from 1997 to 2011. Her mother, Marie, previously served as on South Dublin County Council, representing the Terenure–Rathfarnham LEA. Her brother, Charlie, also served on Dublin City Council, representing the Crumlin–Kimmage area for several years. Ardagh's husband, Darragh McShea, was appointed assistant general secretary of Fianna Fáil in 2016.