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Next Minister for Food & Horticulture? - Damien English TD
- 03 May 2013
About Damien
Damien is currently a TD for the Meath West constituency that stretches from Castlepollard to Navan & Oldcastle to Enfield. He is currently the Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation.
Born
Damien was born on 21st February 1978 in Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda. He was christened Damien Martin English.
Family
In 2007 Damien married Laura Kenny from Agher, Summerhill, together they have one son, Harvey, who was born in October 2009 & one daughter, Karla, who was born in June 2011. Damien has two sisters, Aveen & Edel and two brothers, Mark and Brendan. Damien’s parents Catherine & Eugene live in Castlemartin, Bohermeen, Navan.
Hobbies & Interests
Damien has a keen interest in running. He has successfully completed two Dublin City Marathons. In 2008 he ran in support of the Aisling Group which was established in 1988 in response to a demand for information concerning alcohol & drug problems amongst young people and parents who needed help and guidance.
In 2010 he ran to highlight the work of the SOSAD (Save our Sons and Daughters) office in Navan – a charity aimed at increasing awareness of suicide in Ireland, as well as getting rid of the stigma attached to it.
Damien local football team is St. Ultan’s GFC. He formerly captained St. Cuthbert’s to a Minor Football Championship in 1995. Damien is a keen supporter of the GAA & even with a dodgy knee is eager to start playing Junior Football soon! Damien also enjoys watching Irish & Leinster rugby matches & playing the odd game of snooker.
Educational Background
Damien went to primary school at Bohermeen N.S. He attended St. Ciaran’s Community School in Kells where he completed his Junior and Leaving certificate exams.
Damien has a Diploma in Management Accounting through the Certified Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) following his studies at Dublin Institute of Technology & Dublin Business School. CIMA combines accounting, finance and management skills to interpret information for decision making.
Political Summary
31st Dáil
In the 2011 General Election Damien gained the support 23% of voters in Meath West, receiving some 9,290 first preference votes. Damien is delighted to have been joined by his Fine Gael colleague, Ray Butler in Dáil Éireann to represent the people of Meath West.
Damien was elected Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee for Jobs, Social Protection & Education (JSPE) in June 2011. This Committee has a broad remit, shadowing three departments and will have a key role to play in providing a meaningful input into legislation and policy and informing debate on the creation and retention of jobs; promoting and supporting enterprise and innovation; developing sustainable social policies and ensuring our education system benefits all of society and is recognised internationally as a top class system
In summer 2012 the Oireachtas formed a new standalone Committee for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation (JEI) replacing the JSPE, which was split into two new committees; another new committee was formed to cover the Education & Social Protection portfolios. Damien was elected as Chairperson of this new JEI committee on the 19th June 2012.
30th Dáil
In 2007 Damien was re-elected to Dáil Éireann for the constituency of Meath West, receiving 7,227 first preference votes (17.86%). Damien was the sole Fine Gael representative elected to the Dáil in this new 3 seat constituency.
During the term of the 30th Dáil:
Damien is currently part of the Fine Gael Finance team as Deputy Finance Spokesperson working with Michael Noonan TD, Brian Hayes TD & Senator Liam Twomey on Fine Gael’s budgetary & fiscal policies.
Damien was formerly Fine Gael Spokesperson for Small Business and Labour Affairs (2007 to 2010) working as part of the Enterprise, Trade and Employment brief with Leo Varadkar TD
Serves on the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (2007 to present)
Serves on Joint Committee on Economic Regulatory Affairs (2007 to present)
Serves on the Joint Committee on Finance (2010 to present)
Served on the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny (2007 to 2010)
29th Dáil
Damien was first elected to Dáil Éireann in May 2002 for the constituency of Meath, attaining some 5,958 first preference votes (9.30%). His election saw the constituency return two Fine Gael TD’s to the 29th Dáil. Former Taoiseach John Bruton was also elected in the constituency for Fine Gael in 2002. Damien was the youngest TD in the Dáil at 22 years of age at the time.
During the term of the 29th Dáil:
Damien was Secretary of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party (2002 to 2007)
Fine Gael Deputy Spokesperson for the Arts, Sport and Tourism (2002 to 2004)
Fine Gael Deputy Spokesperson for Justice and Community Affairs, with special responsibility for Drugs, Alcohol & Crime Prevention (2004 to 2007)
A member of the British-Irish Inter Parliamentary Body (2002 to 2007)
Source: HortiTrends News Room
