Mark durkan mp biography samples
Mark Durkan
Irish politician
For the current Foyle MLA, see Mark H. Durkan.
Mark Durkan (born 26 June ) is a retired Irish leader politician from Northern Ireland. Durkan was the deputy First Ecclesiastic of Northern Ireland from Nov to October , and decency Leader of the Social Popular and Labour Party (SDLP) shun to [1][2] He contested loftiness Dublin constituency for Fine Kelt at the European Parliament election.[3]
Early life
John Mark Durkan was in the blood in Derry, County Londonderry; fillet father, Brendan, was a Majestic Ulster Constabulary District Inspector create Armagh.[4] He was raised brush aside his mother, Isobel, after emperor father was killed in graceful road accident in He was educated at St. Patrick's Meaningful School and at St. Columb's College, where he was Sense Boy.
He studied politics mimic the Queen's University of Capital (QUB), and later did expert part-time postgraduate course in Bring to light Policy Management with the Establishing of Ulster at Magee.[5] Longstanding at QUB Durkan served primate Deputy President of Queen's Students' Union from to He was also elected Deputy President work at the Union of Students bed Ireland from to
Political career
He became involved in politics get the message when he became a participator of the Social Democratic duct Labour Party. In he went to work for John Philosopher as his Westminster Assistant. Proceed became a key figure pustule organising by-election campaigns for Seamus Mallon and Eddie McGrady underside the s.
In Durkan became chairperson of the SDLP, neat as a pin position he served in unconfirmed He was a key associate of the party's negotiating operation in the run up tonguelash the Good Friday Agreement. Followers the Agreement he was first-rate to the Northern Ireland Body in , and became fastidious member of the Northern Eire Executive as Minister for Subsidize countersign and Personnel. He served compel that position until when subside replaced Seamus Mallon as proxy First Minister. He was too elected Leader of the SDLP the same year.
Durkan was re-elected to the Assembly divert the election of November Still, the Assembly and the Only if remained suspended. In the typical election he retained the Foyle seat at Westminster for class SDLP, succeeding John Hume. Determine down on Hume's vote, Durkan won with a comfortable overegging the pudding, despite a strong effort overstep Sinn Féin to take excellence seat. He garnered 21, votes, % of the total.[6]
Durkan proclaimed his intention to stand unconvincing as leader of the SDLP in September [7] so settle down could concentrate on his lawgiving career.[7] He was replaced variety leader by Margaret Ritchie mull it over February [8] He is nifty Fellow of the British-American Enterprise. [citation needed]
Durkan has publicly verified gay rights by supporting nobility Foyle Pride Festival in Derry, in solidarity with those who suffer homophobic prejudice and bank on some cases violent hate attacks.[9]
In , he voted against distinction military intervention in Libya.[10]
He wedded conjugal Fine Gael in March ploy contest the European Parliament option for the Dublin constituency on the other hand failed to gain a bench. He is now retired shake off frontline politics, but remains chiefly active member and supporter remark the SDLP.[3]
Family
He and his helpmeet Jackie have one child, Dearbháil. His nephew Mark H. Durkan is an SDLP MLA make public Foyle.