Tommy Broughan TD will not contest general election

Independent TD Tommy Broughan, a long-time public representative for the constituency of Dublin Bay North, has today announced that he will not be contesting the upcoming general election.  

Deputy Broughan was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1992 as a Labour TD for Dublin North East, as it was then known. He became an Independent in 2011 and successfully contested the 2016 election.  

During the 32nd Dáil, Mr Broughan was a member of the Independents4Change Technical Group which was made up of like-minded Independent deputies from around the country – Thomas Pringle, Joan Collins, Catherine Connolly, Maureen O’Sullivan and recently elected MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace.  

Mr Broughan introduced a number of Private Members’ Bills during the current Dáil and over the course of his political career, most recently the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2019. His priorities always included housing, health, disability rights, road safety, crime and justice, education and local government.  

Throughout his political career, he was a vocal and committed supporter of the Stardust Relatives’ and Victims’ Committee.  

Almost 20 years ago, he introduced the first Trade Union Recognition Bill into Dáil Éireann and was a spokesperson over the years on Finance, Enterprise and Employment, Transport, Communications, Energy and the Marine.

In a statement, Mr Broughan said: “I’d like to sincerely thank all my friends and my constituents for their support over the years. After lengthy discussions with my family, staff, I decided not to contest the upcoming general election. It was a very difficult decision since I have been a public representative for almost 29 years. I wish my former Technical Group colleagues, Catherine Connolly, Joan Collins and Thomas Pringle, all the very best on February 8.”