49-year-old Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has resigned from politics, becoming the 16th Fine Gael TD to do so in this Dáil term.
The Clare TD, who has been on sick leave since March of 2023, cited an unspecified medical problem for the decision.
“In the past year, I suffered a life-altering medical situation that I will be dealing with for the rest of my time on earth,” he said in a statement.
“While I would dearly wish to continue, my decision to step away is based on medical advice.”
He added that it had been his “absolute privilege” to be a politician for the past 25 years – 8 as a County Councillor and 17 as a TD.
“I want to take this opportunity to wish Taoiseach, Simon Harris all the best in the forthcoming General Election,” he added.
“His impact has already been spectacular, and I strongly expect the ‘Harris Hop’ to be firmly enjoyed in County Clare and throughout the Country when the next General Election comes around.”
Carey’s sister, Leonora, will be seeking the party’s nomination to replace him at the Clare constituency Fine Gael general election Selection Convention in September.
In addition to Joe Carey, Fine Gael TDs such as Michael Ring, former Taosieach and ex-Fine Gael party leader Leo Varadkar, former Fine Gael Deputy Leader Simon Coveney, Ciarán Cannon, John Paul Phelan, Michael Creed, Charlie Flanagan, Brendan Griffin, Joe McHugh, Fergus O’Dowd, David Stanton, Richard Bruton, Paul Kehoe, Josepha Madigan will also not be seeking re-election – a total of 15.
Fine Gael currently has 34 Dáil seats in total, meaning that to date at least 44% of their current TDs will not be seeking re-election.
TDs RESIGNING FROM OTHER PARTIES
Fine Gael is not the only party to see representatives exiting politics, however.
Earlier this year, Sean Haughey TD, son of former Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Charlie Haughey, announced his retirement from politics. Eamon Ó Cuiv, a Fianna Fáil TD and grandson of Eamon de Valera, has also declared that he will not seek re-election.
Although not retiring from politics, Fianna Fáil Finance Minister Michael McGrath has moved to Brussels to serve as a European Commissioner, and Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has been elected as an MEP, so neither will contest the upcoming general election.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has decided not to run in the next General Election and will be stepping away from electoral politics.
Sinn Féin TD Kathleen Funchion has left the Dáil to become an MEP, meaning she will not participate in the next general election, along with Sinn Féin’s Imelda Munster.
For the Labour Party, former leader Brendan Howlin and Labour TD Sean Sherlock will not be standing for re-election, while Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, having been elected to the European Parliament, will also not be running.
From the Social Democrats, party co-founders Roisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy have decided not to seek re-election.
Additionally, People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has announced she will not stand again.
Several Independent TDs, including Marc MacSharry, Denis Naughten, and Michael McNamara (who was elected to the European Parliament), will also not be running in the next election.