Damien English TD

Damien English TD was appointed Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal in May 2016.  He is a member of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party representing the constituency of Meath West. Damien first stood for election in 1999 and was elected to Meath County Council for the Navan electoral area. In the 2002 general election, Damien was elected to the 29th Dáil as TD for the Meath constituency.  At 24 years of age he was the youngest TD in the 29th Dáil.

Damien was elected secretary to the Fine Gael parliamentary party in 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. From 2002-2007, Damien was a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

Following the General Election in 2007, Damien served as Fine Gael’s deputy spokesperson on Enterprise with special responsibility for Small Business and Labour Affairs from 2007 to 2010. From 2010 to 2011 he was party deputy spokesperson on Finance with special responsibility for Banking and Credit.

In the current Dáil term Damien most recently held the position of Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation. Previously he was Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee for Jobs, Social Protection & Education.

Damien has a Diploma in Management Accounting through the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) following his studies at Dublin Institute of Technology & Dublin Business School. Damien attended secondary school at St. Ciaran’s Community School, Kells and primary school at Bohermeen N.S.

Damien is married to Laura Kenny from Agher, Summerhill; together they have four children; Harvey, Karla, Andrea & Darcie.