ENG: Mark Henry Durkan (born 26 June 1960) is an Irish nationalist politician in Northern Ireland who was leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 2001 to 2010.
Early life
Durkan was born in Derry; his father, Brendan, was an Royal Ulster Constabulary District Inspector in Armagh. He was raised by his mother, Isobel, after his father was killed in a road accident in 1961. He was educated at St. Patrick's Primary School and at St. Columb's College. During his time at St. Columb's, he was Head Boy.
He studied politics at the Queen's University of Belfast and later did a part-time postgraduate course in Public Policy Management with the University of Ulster at Magee.[3] While at QUB Durkan served as Deputy President of Queen's Students' Union from 1982 to 1983. He was ...
CONDOLENCE: SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell, left, former party leader John Hume and, right SDLP leader Mark Durkan sign a book of condolence in memory of Edward Kennedy , positive
The call centre company HML has begun negotiations with staff over job losses at its Londonderry operation. Thirty eight people are going after the firm lost a major client.HML said 22 staff have already applied for voluntary redundancy but it cannot rule out 16 compulsory job losses.The company said it had worked hard to minimise the impact on employees by asking for volunteers for redundancy and was offering extensive support throughout the process.Foyle SDLP MP Mark Durkan said that while there had been job losses with HML in the city before, he was "confident" that the company would stay ...
The votes of Durkan loyalists could be crucial in a fractious campaign that could do more harm than good
IT WAS never going to surprise anyone that Alasdair McDonnell would be the first to announce his ambition to lead the SDLP. Nor was it any great shock to learn that a candidate would be found to oppose him.However, the unveiling of Stormont Minister Margaret Ritchie as that opponent is making the first leadership election in the party’s 40-year history something to watch.Ritchie, standing against the counsel of South Down MP and political mentor Eddie McGrady, is now the hope of ...
Published Date: 21 January 2009
Foyle MP Mark Durkan has called for the setting up of a new Assembly committee to keep a close eye on public spending.He's been responding at Stormont to a DUP motion calling for proposals to reduce the number of government departments and maximise money spent on frontline services.Mr Durkan said: "We propose a new standing committee based on the Public Accounts Committee that will permanently interrogate the cost of government. "It could bring in representatives and ask them to justify the money they are spending, as after all it is the job of this Assembly ...
Eastwood: Two Governments Must Be Involved In Talks SDLP spokesperson on the work of the Office of First and deputy First Minister, Colum Eastwood, has said that the involvement of the British and Irish governments is essential if the unresolved issues of the Past, Parades and flags and emblems, are to be resolved.
Eastwood: A5 Funds Should Not Be Diverted To Other Departments SDLP spokesperson on the work of the Office of First and deputy First Minister, Colum Eastwood has voiced concern at Minister Jonathan Bell's comments that money originally allocated to the A5 road project could be redirected towards the construction of Shared Education campuses.
Durkan fights for free visas for Chernobyl children SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has urged the British government to reconsider its decision to end free visas to the UK for vital recuperative breaks for Belarusian and Ukrainian children who are living with the after-effects of radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
Ramsey welcomes tendering training event SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has welcomed the securing of a training event to help local businesses maximise their tendering opportunities and skills which was agreed after SDLP MLA's engaged with InvestNI to discuss key issues for the City in late 2012.