The 18 Fine Gael TDs you may not know not standing for re-election at the end of this year

The Irish government have agreed as of Monday, that a General Election will take place in 2024.

With just a couple of months left in the year and seventy Fine Gael candidates set to run nationally, let's recap on the eighteen out of thirty three current Fine Gael TDs that will not be standing for re-election.

1. Heather Humphreys

The Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys announced just last Saturday, October 19, 2024 that she will not be seeking re-election.

The Cavan/Monaghan TD said she felt she would not be able to give the role what it required of a person saying: "Politicians are humans too; we give all we can for as long as we can but time catches up on us all."

2. Josepha Madigan

Josepha Madigan resigned from her role as Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion in March of this year and also announced she would not run for re-election.

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3. Simon Coveney

Last summer July 10, Simon Coveney announced he would be stepping back from politics after twenty six years in office.

The Fine Gael TD held multiple roles during his time in office including Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Defence and Minister for Agriculture.

4. Richard Bruton

The Dublin Bay North TD announced his intention to retire at the next election in September last year.

Richard Bruton's career in politics has spanned 41 years since he was first elected to the Dáil in 1982.

5. Charlie Flanagan

Charlie Flanagan announced his intention to stand down at the next election in September of last year.

The Laois/Offaly TD has served for thirty six years since he was first elected to the Dáil in 1987 and said his time has come to step back and "pass the baton to a younger generation."

6. Eoghan Murphy

Eoghan Murphy left Fine Gael back in 2021 and is currently writing a book about his twelve years in Irish politics.

7. Joe McHugh

The Donegal representative announced he would not contest the next General Election back in 2022.

Joe McHugh said time with his family was of the upmost importance to him and he wanted to make more time for his children and to be more "available" to them in their lives.

8. Brendan Griffin

Kerry TD Brendan Griffin announced that he would be standing in the next General Election back in January 2023.

Twelve years after his election to the Dáil in 2011 stated that family reasons were a significant part of why he was choosing to step down.

9. John Paul Phelan 

Carlow-Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan announced in April of last year that he would not be seeking re-election and indicated that health was a significant factor in this decision following a heart attack during the Covid-19 pandemic.

10. Michael Creed

The Cork North West TD and former Agriculture Minister announced that he would not be contesting the next election in April 2023.  

Michael Creed was first elected to the Dáil in 1989 and held his seat until 2002. He lost to his Fine Gael running mate Gerard Murphy but was re-elected in 2007. 

In a statement announcing his intention to step back, he said: “Politics by its nature requires renewal and it’s time for me to move on.”

11. David Stanton

David Stanton announced that he would not seek re-election in May last year after more than 25 years in office. 

The Fine Gael TD for Cork East said it had been the "upmost privilege" of his to represent his constituents since he was first elected in 1997.

12. Fergus O'Dowd

Fergus O'Dowd who served in the Louth and East Meath constituency announced his retirement after the next election last November after fifty years as a public representative.

13. Paul Kehoe

Paul Kehoe announced that he would not be seeking re-election in February of this year.

The Wexford TD said it felt like it was the right time for him and his family for him to step back from politics.

14. Ciaran Cannon

The former junior minister and TD for Galway East Ciaran Cannon announced in March of this year that he was ending his career in politics and would not be seeking re-election the next General Election. 

Cannon was also briefly leader of the Progressive Democrats before he joined Fine Gael in 2009 and was later elected as a TD in 2011. He also served as Minister for State within both the Departments of Education and Foreign Affairs. 

15. Leo Varadkar

Following his resignation as Taoiseach in March, Leo Varadkar announced in July that he would not stand for re-election citing personal and political reasons.

16. Michael Ring

After forty five years in politics, Michael Ring announced in July of this year his intention to retire.

17. Joe Carey

Citing medical advice, the Clare TD announced that he will retire from politics and not stand in the next General Election. 

The announcement came after the TD had been on sick leave since March 2023 after he said he had suffered "a life-altering medical situation that I will be dealing with for the rest of my time on earth."

18. Damien English

The Meath West TD Damien English announced he wouldn’t be contesting the General Election back in September.

In January 2023 he resigned from his role as junior minister following a report by The Ditch that revealed he had not declared his ownership of a residential property for more than a decade.

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