Veteran politician Joe Costello announces resignation

Veteran Dublin politician Joe Costello has announced his resignation from Dublin City Council.

Costello, who served in elected politics for 35 years as a member of Labour, occupied such roles as a Minister of State, TD, Senator and more recently, Councillor for the North Inner City constituency.

Costello’s council colleagues have paid tribute to him, with independent Councillor Nial Ring saying “Joe has represented the area with drive, professionalism and passion for 35 years and he will be missed by his constituents and also by his fellow councillors.”

“Personally, I always found Joe to be very approachable, affable and helpful in all my dealings with him on constituency matters.”

“Although not from Dublin, Joe always put the people of the North Inner City and Dublin Central first and over and over again they thanked him personally and through the ballot box” he added.

“Joe was not just a fellow local politician, he was a confidante, advisor and a friend to all his constituency colleagues and we wish him and Emer a long, happy and well-deserved retirement.”

Costello’s party colleague, Councillor Dermot Lacey thanked him for his “35 years of committed service as a public representative.”

Diplomat Colin Wrafter, who served as Ireland’s ambassador to South Africa and Zimbabwe, said that Councillor was a “fine public representative with a distinguished career he can be proud of.”

Costello’s political journey began in 1989 when he was elected as a Senator to the agricultural panel, before being elected as a TD for the Dublin Central constituency in the 1992 general election.

After losing his seat in the 1997 general election, Costello won a seat on Dublin City Council in 1999, before winning his Dáil seat again in the 2002 general election, remaining there until his loss in the 2016 general election.

Following the end of the dual mandate, Costello’s wife Emer took his place on Dublin City Council in 2003, with Costello herself serving as an MEP for Dublin between 2012 and 2014 and Lord Mayor of Dublin in 2009.

Costello attempted a third re-election in the 2020 general election, but was unsuccessful on that occasion; however, he remained in the council seat he won in 2019 and more recently served as Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin alongside party colleague Alison Gilliland in her position as Lord Mayor in 2021.

Costello served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade during the Fine Gael-Labour coalition, and acted as Michael D Higgins’ head of elections for his ultimately successful 2011 presidential victory.

Following Costello’s resignation, a new councillor will be co-opted in his place, with no details on who will succeed him in the seat ahead of next year’s local elections.