Damien English

Damien English

TD
Damien English; TD
Minister of State
2020–	Enterprise, Trade and Employment
2020–	Social Protection
2017–2020	Housing, Planning and Local Government
2016–2017	Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government
2014–2016	Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
2014–2016	Education and Skills
Teachta Dála
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; May 2007
Constituency	Meath West
	In office; May 2002 – May 2007
Constituency	Meath
Personal details
Born	21 February 1978 (age 43); Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Fine Gael
Spouse(s)	Laura Kenny (m. 2007)
Children	4
Alma mater	Dublin Institute of Technology; Dublin Business School;
Website	damienenglish.ie

Damien English (born 21 February 1978) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister of State since 2014. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath West constituency since 2007, and previously from 2002 to 2007 for the Meath constituency.^[1]

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 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 Fine Gael TD for the Meath constituency, along with his Fine Gael colleague John Bruton.^[2] He was the youngest TD in the 29th Dáil, aged 24 years.

English was elected secretary of the Fine Gael parliamentary party in September 2002, and became the party deputy Spokesperson for Arts, Sports and Tourism. In October 2004, he was appointed deputy Spokesperson for 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.^[3]

He was party deputy Spokesperson for 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 at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and at the Department of Education and Skills with responsibility for Skills, Research and Innovation.^[4]

He served as Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government with responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal from May 2016 to June 2017. He served as Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government with responsibility for Housing and Urban Development from June 2017 to June 2020.^[5]

In July 2020, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Businesses and Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection with responsibility for Redundancy and Insolvency Operations and Employer Services.

References[]

^ "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.
^ "Revealed: These are the Junior Ministers of the 32nd Dáil - Independent.ie". Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.

External links[]

Oireachtas
Preceded by John Farrelly (Fine Gael)	Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Meath 2002–2007	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 2014–2016	Succeeded by John Halligan
Preceded by Paudie Coffey	Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal 2016–2017	Succeeded by Office abolished
Preceded by New office	Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development 2017–2020	Succeeded by Office abolished
Preceded by Pat Breen	Minister of State for Employment Affairs and Retail Businesses 2020–present	Incumbent

[oireachtas_db-1] "Damien English". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 13 May 2009.

[elecs_irl-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.

[5] "Revealed: These are the Junior Ministers of the 32nd Dáil - Independent.ie". Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.

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