Damien English

Damien English
TD
Minister of State for
Skills, Research and Innovation
Assumed office
July 2014
Preceded by Seán Sherlock
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
May 2007
Constituency Meath West
In office
May 2002  May 2007
Constituency Meath
Personal details
Born (1978-02-21) 21 February 1978
Drogheda, County Louth
Nationality Irish
Political party Fine Gael
Spouse(s) Laura Kenny
Children 4
Alma mater Dublin Institute of Technology,
Dublin Business School
Website www.damienenglish.ie

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

  1. "Mr. Damien English". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  2. "Damien English". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  3. "Calls for election focus within Fine Gael". RTÉ News. 5 January 2007.
  4. "Simon Harris among new Ministers of State". RTÉ News. 15 July 2014.

External links

Oireachtas
Preceded by
John Farrelly
(Fine Gael)
Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Meath
20022007
Constituency abolished
New constituency Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Meath West
2007–present
Incumbent
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Denis Naughten
Baby of the Dáil
2002–2007
Succeeded by
Lucinda Creighton
Political offices
Preceded by
Seán Sherlock
Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation
2014–present
Incumbent
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