After 26 years serving his constituency, former tánaiste Simon Coveney has announced that he will not be standing in the next general election. The 52-year-old Cork South Central TD has had a long and distinguished career in politics, first being elected to the Dáil in 1998. He has held various ministerial positions, including minister for agriculture and minister for foreign affairs.
Earlier this year, when Simon Harris took over as Taoiseach, Mr Coveney made the decision to step down from the Cabinet to allow the new leader to appoint new ministers. This move was seen as an indication that his time in politics was coming to an end.
In a statement this morning, Mr Coveney expressed his gratitude for the privilege of serving his constituency and announced his plans to explore new horizons outside of politics. He expressed confidence in the future of Fine Gael under the leadership of Mr Harris, noting that the party has been reinvigorated.
As Mr Coveney closes this chapter of his political career, we look back on his victory in the 1998 Cork South Central by-election as a significant moment in his journey.