Patrick "Paddy" Burke (born 15 January 1955) is an Irish Fine Gael politician and is a member of Seanad Éireann since February 1993.
Burke was a member of Mayo County Council from 1979 until the abolition of the dual mandate in 2003. He was first elected to the Oireachtas in the 1993 election to the 20th Seanad by the Agricultural Panel, which also returned him to the 21st Seanad in 1997 and to the 22nd Seanad in 2002. In September 2002, Burke was elected as Leas Cathaoirleach (Deputy Chairman) of the Seanad, and after his re-election in 2007 to the 23rd Seanad he was re-elected as Leas Cathaoirleach.
He was elected as the Cathaoirleach of the 24th Seanad on 25 May 2011.
Famous quotes containing the words paddy and/or burke:
“O Paddy dear, an’ did ye hear the news that’s goin’ round?
The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground!
No more Saint Patrick’s Day we’ll keep, his colour can’t be seen,
For there’s a cruel law agin the wearin’ o’ the Green!”
—Unknown. The Wearing of the Green (l. 37–40)
“The science of constructing a commonwealth, or renovating it, or reforming it, is, like every other experimental science, not to be taught a priori. Nor is it a short experience that can instruct us in that practical science, because the real effects of moral causes are not always immediate.”
—Edmund Burke (1729–1797)