Tuffy is a former TD and current councillor. She was first elected as a councillor in 1999. She unsuccessfully contested the 2002 general election before serving as a Senator from 2002 to 2007. She was elected to the Dáil in 2007 and served until losing her seat in the 2016 general election. She was elected again to South Dublin County Council in the 2019 local elections. She is a qualified solicitor.