Colm Burke is Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy. He was appointed to this role on 10 April 2024.
He was elected as a TD for Cork North Central in 2020. He was previously a Senator (2011-2020) and was elected on the Industrial and Commercial Panel.
Colm was a member of the European Parliament for the Ireland South constituency between 2007 and 2009.
He was a member of Cork City Council from 1995-2007 and was Lord Mayor of Cork in 2003-2004.
Colm is a native of Dripsey in Mid Cork, educated in De La Salle College Macroom and University College Cork, qualifying as a solicitor in 1982.
He has been involved in many community organisations, including Foroige and Macra na Feirme, served as Chairman of Blackpool Community Centre and Blackpool/Glen/Farranree Training Centre. He has also served as a Director of the Port of Cork, Cork Urban Enterprises Ltd, the National Sculpture Factory and Cork City Urban Ltd. He was a member of the National Executive of Young Fine Gael (1978-1982), serving as National Chairperson (1980-1981). He also served on the Fine Gael National Executive (1981-1982).
Colm was involved in the publishing of two private members bills; the Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2013 and the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2012. The Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2014 has since been published by the Minister for Health.
You can contact Mr Burke at colm.burke@oireachtas.ie