A solicitor from Dripsey in Mid-Cork, Colm Burke was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the last general election, but he has a long history of public representation for Fine Gael whom he joined when a student while studying law in UCC going on to serve as National Chairman of Young Fine Gael.
Initially co-opted on to Cork Corporation 1995, he served on the council until 2007 during which time he was elected Lord Mayor of Cork while he also served as an MEP for Ireland South from 2007 to 2009 before being elected to Seanad Éireann in 2011, serving there until 2020.
Appointed a Minister of State last April, Burke found himself making headlines in July when he was refused Holy Communion at Mass in Whitechurch by local priest, Fr Gabriel Burke because of his voting for legislation enabling the Repeal of the Eighth Amendment.
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