Cork North Central TD Colm Burke was yesterday, Wednesday, appointed Junior Minister with responsibility for Public Health and Drugs Strategy following the handing out of portfolios by the newly-elected Taoiseach Simon Harris. The Fine Gael TD was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 2020, having served since 2011 as a Senator, and was an MEP from 2007 to 2009, as well as Mayor of Cork in 2003, and a member of Cork City Council from 1999 to 2007.
Mr. Burke’s elevation to Minster of State should be of interest to Mallow, as the town was moved from Cork East to Cork North Central in the last Boundary Commission redrawing of constituencies, and the new Minister of State will no doubt be introducing himself to local voters in the run-up to the next General Election which will be taking place later this year or in early 2025.