Former tánaiste Simon Coveney has announced that he is dropping out of politics and will not run in the next general election.
Mr Coveney, 52, was first elected to the Dáil in a by-election in 1998.
In a statement to members of his party in his constituency of Cork South Central, Mr Coveney said “thank you” and that being elected for 26 years has been “the privilege of my life”.
The Fine Gael TD has served as tánaiste, and as the minister for foreign affairs, minister for agriculture, and as minister for enterprise.
However, when Simon Harris was appointed Taoiseach earlier this year, Mr Coveney announced that he would not be available to serve in Cabinet.
“Now is the right time for renewal in FG & for me to change direction,” he wrote.
“I know I took many by surprise in April when I announced that I would not be available to serve in cabinet after the FG leadership change. I hope that decision made Simon Harris’s challenge of creating renewal within the party a little easier.
“It was the right decision and we’ve seen the benefits of new leadership and fresh faces in cabinet in the elections in June. All my political career I have tried to do what’s right for Cork, for the country that I love and for our party that I’ve given my working life to since the age of 25.
“However, I have come to the view some time ago that it’s time for me to step out of politics at the next election, after the extraordinary privilege of serving this constituency for 26 years.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris said that he wanted to “thank him and wish his family the very best”.
“Simon Coveney is not just a colleague, he is a friend. He has served his constituency, his party and his country with distinction. Most particularly his contribution to protecting our national interest during Brexit is an outstanding legacy,” the taoiseach wrote.