Brief Biography:

Born in Warrenpoint, County Down and educated at Our Lady's Grammar School, Newry, County Down, Carmel Hanna, pursued a career as a nurse, certified midwife, and later as a National Health Service worker assessing care for the elderly. Although Hanna joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in 1972 and served on its General Council, it was not until 1997 that she was first elected as a public representative when winning a seat on Belfast City Council (1997-present). A year later in June 1998 she was returned as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 for the constituency of South Belfast (1998-present)and later served on the Assembly's environmental committee as vice-chair and on the health committee. In December 2001 Hanna was appointed as Minister for Employment and Learning by the new SDLP party leader Mark Durkan and held the post until the suspension of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in October 2002.

Book References:

Elliott, Sydney. and Flackes, W.D. (1999), Northern Ireland: A Political Directory 1968-1999. Belfast: Blackstaff Press.

Web Sources:

http://www.sdlp.ie/party/carmelhanna.shtm
http://www.stratagem-ni.org/

[Entry written by B.Lynn - 19 November 2002]