As Labour's Spokesperson for Higher and Further Education I am working in Seanad Eireann to voice the needs of students, teachers and all workers in our higher education sector.
Four years ago, while I was President of the Students Union of Ireland, the Cassells Report was published which gave us a roadmap to a publicly-funded third level educations sector which is free at the point of use for everyone. I believe it is time to;
- Abolish student fees
- Make all third-level education free at the point of access, for everyone regardless of age or level of qualification.
- Reform SUSI to make sure no student is blocked from education due to additional costs.
- Reinstate postgraduate grants.
- Stop the casualisation of work in the sector.
- Increase funding for both research and teaching positions within third level institutes.
As a Labour Party Senator, I sit on the Health Committee, the Good Friday Agreement Committee and Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.
I am a member of the Oireachtas Woman's Caucus working group and co-chair of the All-Party Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
I'm an activist first, with a proven track record of successfully fighting for the young people of Ireland. I played a key role in two of the largest social justice campaigns in recent times. While a student I served as the National Co-Ordinator of Student’s for Marriage Equality (2014-2015). Following my time in USI, I joined the Coalition to Repeal the 8th as National Canvassing Coordinator and was then asked to serve as the National Canvassing Manager for Together For Yes (2018). I am proud to bring an active voice to Seanad Éireann and use my position here to champion matters of equality, fairness and justice.
I’m a Drogheda native, born and reared on a tillage farm in Co. Meath. I am a former Meath County Councillor.

Senator Annie Hoey Spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Constituency:
- Ireland - Midlands North West : Meath East : Laytown-Bettystown
- Tel:
- +35316184535
- Email:
- annie.hoey@oireachtas.ie
- Social:
- /HoeyAnnie
- @hoeyannie
- @hoeyannie