Kathleen Funchion

Kathleen Funchion (born 22 April 1981) is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the South constituency since July 2024. She was previously a Teachta Dála (TD) for Carlow–Kilkenny from the 2016 general election to 2024. She was Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Children, Disabilities, Integration and Equality.

She was a member of Kilkenny Borough Council from 2009 to 2014 and Kilkenny County Council from 2014 to 2016. Prior to her election to the Dáil, she worked with the SIPTU trade union.

She contested the 2007 general election and the 2011 general election in Carlow-Kilkenny, and the 2009 European Parliament election in East. She was elected to the 32nd Dáil for Carlow-Kilkenny at the 2016 general election, taking the third seat. From 2016 to 2020, she served Chair of the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. She was re-elected at the 2020 general election, taking the first seat. In September 2020, she was appointed as chair of the Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration in the 33rd Dáil.

Funchion was a Sinn Féin candidate for the South constituency at the 2024 European Parliament election. Funchion was elected, taking the fifth seat. She took office on 17 July 2024.

Personal life
She was previously married to David Cullinane who is a Sinn Féin TD for Waterford.