Joan Burton

About

In 2014, this Labour Party leader and longtime member of the Teachta Dala (Irish legislature) took office as Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister (or Tanaiste). Previously, she had served as both Minister for Social Protection and Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Human Rights.

Before Fame

After studying business at University College Dublin, she taught at both the Dublin Institute of Technology and Tanzania's University of Dar es Salaam.

Trivia

In the early 1990s, she briefly served as Minister of State for the Department of Social Welfare.

Family Life

A native of Dublin, Ireland, she was raised in Inchicore by her adoptive parents. Her marriage to Pat Carroll resulted in one child.

Associated With

In 2014, she replaced Eamon Gilmore as leader of the Irish Labour Party.