Mark H. Durkan
Mark H. Durkan | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly forFoyle | |
| Assumed office 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Bradley |
| Minister of the Environment | |
| In office 16 July 2013 – 6 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Alex Attwood |
| Succeeded by | abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Henry Durkan 3 March 1978 Derry,Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | SDLP |
| Spouse | Anne Carlin |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Mark Durkan(uncle) |
Mark Henry Durkan(born 3 March 1978)[1]is aSocial Democratic and Labour Party(SDLP) politician inNorthern Irelandwho was elected to theNorthern Ireland Assemblyin 2011, representing the Foyle constituency.[2][3]He served asMinister of the Environmentuntil the department was dissolved in 2016. He is currently the SDLP spokesperson for Social Justice.
Early life[edit]
Mark Durkan was born March 3, 1978, to Patrick and Gay Durkan. He was one of six siblings. He studied inSt Columb's College,Derry,before studying English atQueen's University, Belfast.After leaving university, he worked for Ulster Ceramics, and then as a shop assistant, until his election to Derry City Council in 2005.[4]
Work[edit]
Durkan was elected toDerry City Councilin 2005 topping the poll with 2369 first preference votes.[5]He served on council until May 2011 sitting on the Western Health & Social Care Board and Western Education and Library Board.[6]After his election to the Assembly in May 2011 he served as his party's health spokesman from May 2011 to April 2012, and campaigned on the outbreak in January 2012 ofpseudomonasat bothRoyal Jubilee Maternity Services (Belfast)andAltnagelvin Area Hospital(Derry), which claimed the lives of several infants.[7]
It was on the NI Assembly's Social Development Committee from May 2011 to July 2013 where he really came to the fore working tirelessly and effectively on issues such as housing and to protect the most vulnerable in society from the negative impacts theWelfare Reform Bill.[8] As Environment Minister Mark H. Durkan has proposed reforms to the NI Planning system in order to make it fairer, faster and more fit for purpose.[9]He is also considering an outright ban on election posters.[10]
Personal life[edit]
In 2006, Durkan sustained life-threatening injuries following a fall at his parents' home.[4]
In his spare time, he regularly gives his time to charitable causes, which led him to compete inBallroom and Latin Dancingcompetitions in his hometown,[11]andwhite-collar bo xingbouts.[12]He is a running enthusiast having completed several half marathons and the first ever Walled City Marathon in Derry on 2 June 2013.[13][14]
Durkan married Anne Carlin on 13 July 2013,[15]and has three sons and a daughter. The family live in Strathfoyle. He is a nephew of former SDLP leaderMark Durkan.
References[edit]
- ^"MLA Details: Mr Mark Durkan".Aims.niassembly.gov.uk.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^"Election 2011 - Northern Ireland - Foyle".Bbc.co.uk.11 May 2011.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^"Derry Journal: The 'Durkan brand' gets Mark H elected".The Derry Journal.Retrieved23 August2012.
- ^abMcNeilly, Claire."Mark H Durkan on the sisters he lost to suicide and a car crash".Belfasttelegraph.
- ^Dr Nicholas Whyte."Derry City Council, 1993-2011".Ark.ac.uk.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^Mary Minihan (25 April 2011)."Assembly election: constituency profile".Irishtimes.Retrieved2 March2017.
- ^"SDLP".Sdlp.ie.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^"Durkan: We support welfare reform, not unfair reform".Derry Journal.26 February 2012.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^"Environment Minister Mark Durkan proposes reform to speed planning".BBC News. 9 January 2014.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^Simpson, Mark (12 February 2014)."Giro d'Italia: Mark H Durkan considers election poster blanket ban".BBC News.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^"Pink Ladies to cha, cha, quick step and jive".Derry Journal.14 February 2011.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^"BBC News - Mark H Durkan has the eye of the tiger".Bbc.co.uk.14 February 2012.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^"A big congrats & Big good luck to Our Boss Mark Durkan today running the marathon".M.youtube.2 June 2013.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^"SLIDESHOW-The Walled City Marathon 2013".Derry Journal.4 June 2013.Retrieved3 March2017.
- ^"SDLP's Mark H Durkan becomes new man on the high wire as Environment Minister".Belfasttelegraph.Retrieved3 March2017.