Bernard J Durkan, originally from Killasser, Co Mayo, is a Fine Gael TD in the Kildare North. His political career commenced in 1981 when he was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Kildare Constituency. Despite briefly losing his seat in February 1982 when Fine Gael was defeated, he quickly regained it in November of that same year. A notable achievement of Bernard’s career is that he has been re-elected in every subsequent election to date.
Bernard’s time as a TD has seen him serving as Minister of State for Social Welfare from 1994-1997. He has also been involved in various different Committees and Boards. He previously acted as Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee of European Affairs and Chairman of Kildare County Council. He was also a member of the Public Accounts Committee, the Eastern Health Board, and has previously served as Fine Gael Chief Whip. Currently, Bernard serves as Vice Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas on Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and is a member of the Joint Committee on European Affairs.
During his time in office, Bernard has been a Fine Gael Front Bench spokesperson on a wide range of topics including Health, Food, Trade and Industry, Insurance, Overseas Development Aid and Human rights, and Communications and Natural resources.
Source: Fine Gael – Next Minister for Food and Horticulture? Bernard Durkan TD
