Lynn Ruane is an independent Irish politician who has served as a Senator and thedeputy leader of the Civil Engagement Group in Seanad Éireann since 2016. Lynn isfrom Tallaght, an historically underserved and underrepresented community inDublin. A long-time community and drug worker, Lynn now uses her political platformto amplify the voices of those furthest from decision-making processes and structuresand challenge the systems that uphold and reproduce inequality in the Irishparliament.

Lynn’s legislative work directly responds to the lived realities of people furthest frompower. To date, that has included developing legislation to end the criminalisationof people who use drugs, expand Ireland's spent conviction regime, secure a fairerchild maintenance system for lone-parents, and cease the misuse of non-disclosureagreements. Lynn also serves as an active member of the parliamentaryCommittees on Justice, Migration and Home Affairs, and Artificial Intelligence,calling for an equitable, human rights-based approach to these areas.

In addition to her legislative work, Lynn has undertaken substantial research intocommunity-based violence intervention models in recent years, examining howcycles of harm and victimisation are rooted in structural inequality, poverty andsustained underinvestment. This research informed the development of theCanalCommunities Community-Based Public Safety Strategy, launched in 2025, andinspired Lynn’s commencement of her doctoral studies at Maynooth University’sSchool of Law and Criminology in September 2026.