Damien English
Damien English | |
|---|---|
 English in 2015 | |
| Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal | |
| Assumed office 19 May 2016 | |
| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation | |
| In office July 2014 – May 2016 | |
| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Preceded by | Seán Sherlock |
| Succeeded by | John Halligan |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office May 2007 | |
| Constituency | Meath West |
| In office May 2002 – May 2007 | |
| Constituency | Meath |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 February 1978 Drogheda, Louth, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse | Laura Kenny |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin Business School |
| Website | www |
Damien English (born 21 February 1978) is an Irish Fine Gael politician and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath West constituency.[1]
Early and personal life
He educated at Bohermeen National School in County Meath, and Kells Community School. He further studied and part qualified with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants at the Dublin Institute of Technology and the Dublin Business School. He is married to Laura Kenny, and they have one son and three daughters.
Political career
English first entered politics when he was elected to Meath County Council in 1999 for the local electoral area of Navan, where he was the youngest council member. At the 2002 general election, he was elected to the 29th Dáil as a TD for the Meath constituency.[2] He was the youngest TD in the 29th Dáil.
English was elected secretary to the Fine Gael parliamentary party in September 2002, and became the party deputy spokesperson on Arts, Sports and Tourism. In October 2004 he was appointed deputy spokesperson on Justice and Community Affairs with special responsibility for Drugs, Alcohol and Crime Prevention. He was a member of the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly from 2002 to 2007. He served as deputy spokesperson on Enterprise with special responsibility for Labour Affairs and Small Business from 2007 to 2010.
In January 2007 English was linked to a statement by fellow Fine Gael TD John Deasy regarding Deasy's intention to run for party leader if Enda Kenny failed to bring the party into government following the 2007 general election. English dismissed these claims as being false.[3]
He was party deputy spokesperson on Finance with special responsibility for Banking and Credit from October 2010 to March 2011.
On 15 July 2014, he was appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for Skills, Research and Innovation at the Departments of Education and Skills and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.[4]
References
- ^ "Mr. Damien English". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- ^ "Damien English". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- ^ "Calls for election focus within Fine Gael". RTÉ News. 5 January 2007.
- ^ "Simon Harris among new Ministers of State". RTÉ News. 15 July 2014.