Mullen, Rónán Thomas
Full-Time Public Representative (Senator)
Senator Rónán Mullen has represented the National University of Ireland constituency in Seanad Éireann since 2007, having been re-elected three times.
As an Independent politician and chairperson of the Human Dignity Alliance Rónán advocates for a human dignity perspective in policy and law-making. In his work to date Rónán has emphasised issues such as the right to life, protections for the victims of human trafficking, support for improved end-of-life/palliative care in hospitals, and enhanced welfare protection for the socially and economically vulnerable. He has been a vocal critic of the Irish Government’s response to China’s persecution of its Uyghur and other minorities in Xinjiang province.
Rónán currently serves as a member of the Joint Committee on Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other Committees in Oireachtas Éireann. He established the Oireachtas Human Dignity Award which is presented annually by the Oireachtas Life & Dignity Group to a person or group whose commitment to the promotion of human dignity has been exemplary. In 2022 he founded the Oireachtas Essay Competition / Comórtas Aiste an Oireachtais, which he convenes annually, to encourage senior cycle students on the island of Ireland to consider the importance of democracy and their own role in our political system. This Competition currently awards €6,000 in prizes annually to students writing in English or as Gaeilge.
Rónán was born and lives in Ahascragh, Co Galway, where he helps run a small family farm. He took a BA in English and French in NUI Galway (1991), was elected Student Union President in the then University College Galway (UCG) in 1991. He obtained a Master's Degree in Journalism from Dublin City University in 1993. After studies in the Kings Inns he was called to the Bar in 2003 and practised briefly as a barrister prior to his election in 2007. He is currently on leave from his lecturing post in TU Dublin, where he has lectured in Law, Communications and Personal Development. Rónán was formerly a weekly opinion columnist in the Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mail, and is a regular public commentator on social, cultural and political matters. He was a Communications Officer and spokesperson for the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin from 1996 to 2001.
He was a member of the Irish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in 2010 and again from 2016 to 2018, in the course of which he delivered a report on The Provision of Palliative Care in Europe (2018).
Independent member of Seanad Éireann for NUI graduates, first elected 2007.
Member, Board of Management, Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew, Co Galway. Former Chairperson, Eglish National School, Ahascragh, Co Galway, and former Member, Board of Directors of CEIST, trust body for over 100 voluntary secondary schools nationwide.
Called to the Bar 2003
Former President, NUI Galway Student Union (1991-1992).
Member, Irish delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, 2010 and 2016-2018.
Rapporteur, The Provision of Palliative Care in Europe (adopted November 2018).
Member, Oireachtas Life & Dignity Group.
Competition Convenor, Oireachtas Essay Competition.
For more see website: www.ronanmullen.ie
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