Peter Burke (politician)

Peter Burke
Burke in 2024
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Assumed office
9 April 2024
TaoiseachSimon Harris
Preceded bySimon Coveney
Minister of State
2022–2024European Affairs
2022–2024Defence
2020–2022Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2016
ConstituencyLongford–Westmeath
Personal details
Born (1982-10-22) 22 October 1982 (age 42)
Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland
Political partyFine Gael
Spouse
Olivia Burke
(m. 2015)
Children2
EducationColáiste Mhuire, Mullingar
Alma materNUI Galway
Websitewww.finegael.ie/our-people/tds/longford-westmeath/peter-burke/

Peter Burke (born 22 October 1982) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment since 2024. He served as Minister of State for European Affairs and Minister of State at the Department of Defence from 2022 to 2024. He served as Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage from 2020 to 2022. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency since 2016.[1]

He was a member of Westmeath County Council from 2009 to 2016.[2][3] He lives in Mullingar with his wife and two children.

Peter Burke was a frequent media commentator during the 32nd Dáil on issues including finance and taxation, drawing from his private sector experience as a Chartered Accountant.[4]

On 1 July 2020, following the formation of the Government of the 33rd Dáil, Burke was appointed as a Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with responsibility for Local Government and Planning.[5][6]

He is a close ally of Leo Varadkar,[7] and was a prominent supporter of his in his campaign to be the leader of Fine Gael in 2017, stating at the time that there were "two strong candidates in the race, and I know that neither will let the competition become divisive for the party or the country".[8]

In December 2022, he was appointed as Minister of State for European Affairs and Minister of State at the Department of Defence following the appointment of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach.[9]

On 9 April 2024, Burke was appointed as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment following the appointment of Simon Harris as Taoiseach.[10]

  1. ^ "Peter Burke". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Peter Burke". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Peter Burke TD". Fine Gael. 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  4. ^ "PAC to examine matters related to Revenue including tax compliance interventions and tax relief on film production – 27 Nov 2019, 09.46". Oireachtas. 27 November 2019. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2020 (57): 820–821. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  6. ^ Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 559 of 2020). Signed on 24 November 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Large crowd gathers as Varadkar opens Burke's office". Athlone Advertiser. 1 June 2017. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Burke backs Varadkar for top job at FG". Westmeath Examiner. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Minister of State appointments". Gov.ie. Department of the Taoiseach. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  10. ^ Pope, Conor (9 April 2024). "Cabinet reshuffle: Peter Burke and Patrick O'Donovan appointed Ministers, McEntee to remain in Justice". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 April 2024.