In July 2014, she was appointed Minister for Education and Skills. She continued the promotion of plurality in a church-dominated system by divesting schools of church patronage, and announced new multi-denominational schools under the patronage divesting process. In March 2015, the government, with O'Sullivan the minister responsible, confirmed it would lock away for 75 years any statements it received from victims of child sexual abuse (almost twice the normal length). This decision was criticised by survivors. Opposition: 2016–2020 O'Sullivan retained her seat in the Dáil, following the 2016 general election in February, one of only seven Labour TDs to be elected. The party did not enter government, though O'Sullivan retained her position as Minister for Education and Skills until talks on government formation had concluded and the formation of a new government on 6 May 2016. She lost her seat at the 2020 general election. References External links Jan O'Sullivan's page on the Labour Party website 1950 births Living people Alumni of University College Cork Alumni of Trinity College Dublin Democratic Socialist Party (Ireland) politicians Women government ministers of the Republic of Ireland Irish Anglicans Irish schoolteachers Labour Party (Ireland) TDs Local councillors in County Limerick Mayors of Limerick (city) Members of the 20th Seanad 20th-century women members of Seanad Éireann Members of the 28th Dáil Members of the 29th Dáil Members of the 30th Dáil Members of the 31st Dáil Members of the 32nd Dáil 20th-century women Teachtaí Dála 21st-century women Teachtaí Dála Ministers for Education (Ireland) Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil Politicians from County Clare Women mayors of places in Ireland Labour Party (Ireland) senators Women ministers of state of the Republic of Ireland People educated at Villiers School