Quick Facts
Biography
Damien English (born 21 February 1978) is an Irish Fine Gael politician and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath West constituency.
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 TD for the Meath constituency along with his Fine Gael colleague John Bruton. He was the youngest TD in the 29th Dáil aged 24 years. He has been elected at each of the last three General Elections since 2002 - in 2007, 2011 and in 2016.
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.
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.
On 19 May 2016, he was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal at the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.