Bernard Durkan, TD

Bernard J Durkan is the Fine Gael spokesperson on Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Originally from Killasser, Co Mayo, he is a Fine Gael TD for 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.

News & Statements

Sinn Féin reach new low exploiting Covid diagnosis in Dáil vote

Fine Gael’s most senior TD, Bernard Durkan, has said Sinn Féin have displayed a terrible lack of decency and reached a new low in exploiting his Covid diagnosis for their advantage in the Dáil confidence motion on the Government.

12th July 2022

Agency should be tasked with monitoring alleged price gouging by service providers – Durkan

A government agency should be tasked with monitoring price increases across utility and service providers to ensure fairness and transparency for consumers, according to Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan.

24th June 2022

Questions remain about National Lottery’s new 'must-win' prize game – Durkan

The National Lottery’s newly announced ‘must-win prize’ is an acknowledgement that the 6-month rollover is unsustainable, but questions remain regarding how the new game design will operate, a Fine Gael TD has said.

15th December 2021

Lotto bosses and regulator must answer questions into six-month unlucky streak – Durkan

An Oireachtas Committee will next week hear from the National Lottery and the Office of the Regulator as the €19m jackpot has not been won in more than six months.

9th December 2021

National Lotto Regulator must appear before Oireachtas Committee – Durkan

The Regulator of the National Lottery must come before an Oireachtas Committee to answer questions surrounding the longest running roll-over in the history of the game, a Fine Gael TD has said.

24th November 2021

Urgent probe into unwinnable lotto required – Durkan

IT is time for an audit and investigation of the National Lottery draw as there has not been a winner of the top lotto jackpot in almost six months, a Fine Gael TD has said.

19th November 2021

Sinn Féin’s Budget slams ordinary workers by increasing taxes and opposing home ownership - Durkan

Sinn Féin’s wish list Budget looks to penalise ordinary families by increasing taxes, attacking job creation and locking workers out of home ownership, a Fine Gael TD has said.

7th October 2021