Bernard Durkan
Encyclopedia
Bernard J. Durkan is an Irish
Fine Gael
politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála
(TD) for the Kildare North constituency.
He was born in Killasser, County Mayo
, and educated at St. John's, Carramore, County Mayo.
He was elected to Dáil Éireann
for the Kildare constituency
at the 1981 general election
, but lost his seat at the February 1982 general election following the defeat of the Fine Gael–Labour Party
coalition. He was then elected as a member of the 16th Seanad by the Agricultural Panel.
Durkan regained his Dáil seat at the November 1982 general election, and was re-elected at the 1987
, 1989
, and 1992
general elections. When the Kildare constituency was divided, he was elected at the 1997 general election
for the new constituency of Kildare North, and retained his seat at the 2002
and 2007 general elections.
During his career as a member of Dáil Éireann
, he has held several Front Bench portfolios in Fine Gael, including Health, Food, Trade and Industry, Insurance, Overseas Development Aid and Human Rights, and Communications and Natural Resources. He served as Minister of State
for Social Welfare from 1994–1997.
He has also served as Chairman of the Joint Committee on European Affairs and as a member of the Public Accounts Committee. He has also acted as a member of the Eastern Health Board
, and Chairman and member of Kildare County Council
. He has also served as Fine Gael Chief Whip
. He is currently chairman of the Dáil Committee on European Affairs.
Following the recent collapse of the Irish economy, Durkan has refused to defer the drawing of his ministerial salary while still being paid as a TD.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for the Kildare North constituency.
He was born in Killasser, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, and educated at St. John's, Carramore, County Mayo.
He was elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
for the Kildare constituency
Kildare (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Kildare was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1923 to 1937 and from 1948 to 1997...
at the 1981 general election
Irish general election, 1981
The Irish general election of 1981 was held on 11 June 1981, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 21 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 22nd Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 30 June when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
, but lost his seat at the February 1982 general election following the defeat of the Fine Gael–Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
coalition. He was then elected as a member of the 16th Seanad by the Agricultural Panel.
Durkan regained his Dáil seat at the November 1982 general election, and was re-elected at the 1987
Irish general election, 1987
The Irish general election of 1987 was held on 17 February 1987, four weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 20 January. The newly-elected 166 members of the 25th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 10 March when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed.The general election took place in...
, 1989
Irish general election, 1989
The Irish general election of 1989 was held on Thursday, 15 June 1989, three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 25 May. The newly elected 166 members of the 26th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 29 June...
, and 1992
Irish general election, 1992
The Irish general election of 1992 was held on Wednesday, 25 November 1992, almost three weeks after the dissolution of the Dáil on 5 November. However, after difficulties in forming a government the newly elected 166 members of the 27th Dáil did not assemble at Leinster House until 4 January 1993...
general elections. When the Kildare constituency was divided, he was elected at the 1997 general election
Irish general election, 1997
The Irish general election of 1997 was held on Friday, 6 June 1997. The 166 newly elected members of the 28th Dáil assembled on 26 June 1997 when a new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
for the new constituency of Kildare North, and retained his seat at the 2002
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
and 2007 general elections.
During his career as a member of Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
, he has held several Front Bench portfolios in Fine Gael, including Health, Food, Trade and Industry, Insurance, Overseas Development Aid and Human Rights, and Communications and Natural Resources. He served as Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
for Social Welfare from 1994–1997.
He has also served as Chairman of the Joint Committee on European Affairs and as a member of the Public Accounts Committee. He has also acted as a member of the Eastern Health Board
Health Board
The Health Board system of the Republic of Ireland was created by the 1970 Health Act. This system was initially created with eight health boards, each of which were prescribed a functional area in which they operated...
, and Chairman and member of Kildare County Council
Kildare County Council
Kildare County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Kildare in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The council is governed by the Local Government...
. He has also served as Fine Gael Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
. He is currently chairman of the Dáil Committee on European Affairs.
Following the recent collapse of the Irish economy, Durkan has refused to defer the drawing of his ministerial salary while still being paid as a TD.