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Independent Carol Nolan first entered the Dáil in 2016, when she was a member of Sinn Féin.
In March 2018, she was suspended from the Republican party for three months for voting against legislation to allow for a referendum on the repeal of the Eight Amendment, support for which had been adopted at the party’s Ard Fheis.
As a result of the party’s stance on abortion, she resigned from Sinn Féin in June of that year.
A primary teacher of 12 years and former Gaelscoil principal, Nolan was elected to Offaly County Council for Sinn Féin in the 2014 local elections in the Birr electoral area.
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An advocate for equal education opportunities for children, the 41-year-old married mother of two attained a masters degree in special and inclusive education in 2011.
She has campaigned for improvements to services such including occupational and speech therapy for children with special needs.
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