Preceded by Sean Sherlock Nationality Irish Role Teachta Dala | Constituency Meath Name Damien English Constituency Meath West Spouse(s) Laura Kenny | |
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Previous office Member of Dail Eireann (2007–2009) Profiles | ||
Deputy Damien English - Private Members’ Business - 12.12.2018
Damien English (born 21 February 1978) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development since June 2017. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) since 2002, currently for the Meath West constituency. He previously served as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal from 2016 to 2017 and Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation from 2014 to 2016.
Contents
- Deputy Damien English Private Members Business 12122018
- Minister Damien English on INTO strike
- Early and personal life
- Political career
- References
Minister Damien English on INTO strike
Early and personal life
English was educated at Bohermeen National School in County Meath, and went on to attend 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, 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 Teachta Dála for the Meath constituency along with his Fine Gael colleague John Bruton. He was the youngest TD in the 29th Dáil aged 24 years.
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 the leadership of the party if Enda Kenny failed to bring the party into government following the 2007 general election. English dismissed these claims as being false.
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.
He served as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal from May 2016 to June 2017. He was appointed Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development in May 2017.