Haughey announces he will step down at next election

Fianna Fáil TD Seán Haughey has announced he will not contend the next general election.

Announcing the news on Tuesday evening, Haughey said “having devoted all my adult life to public service, I have come to the view that now is the right time for me to step down from frontline politics.”

“Following my first election to Dublin City Council in 1985, it was a tremendous honour to go on to serve as a Senator, a Dáil Deputy, a Minister of State, and as Lord Mayor of Dublin.

I am extremely grateful to my constituents for their loyal support down the years and wish to thank them for the trust they placed in me to be their representative in Dáil Éireann.

“Over the course of my time in politics, I found it enormously fulfilling to be able to give advice and assistance to hundreds of individuals, groups, and organisations in helping them secure the benefits and services to which they were entitled.

“I am also proud that I could carry on a family tradition of public service in the constituency dating right back to the 1950s,” he said.

Haughey was first elected to the Dáil in 1992 in what was then known as Dublin-North Central, losing his seat in the Fianna Fáil wipeout of 2011, but securing re-election in Dublin Bay North in 2016.

Haughey said he was “deeply grateful” to his wife Orla, his 4 adult children, my extended family, as well as the many loyal party members and lifelong friends “for their unfailing help and encouragement in all my election campaigns.”

“I remain fully committed to Fianna Fáil as a democratic party, at the centre of Irish political life, advancing a caring social philosophy, and capable of resolving the many and varied problems that we now face.”

Paying tribute to Haughey, Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD said, “Seán Haughey is a man of great integrity, a fine parliamentarian and someone who takes pride in being meticulous in every aspect of his work.”

 “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to the well-being of those he represents. Whether advocating for their needs in Dáil Éireann, addressing their concerns, or working tirelessly to enact positive change, Seán has always placed the interests of his constituents at the forefront of his efforts. He possesses a deep understanding of the weight of the responsibility entrusted upon him and his dedication to serving his community has been unwavering.

 “Seán fully recognises the importance of fostering understanding and cooperation on the international stage and has always maintained a deep interest in global affairs, particularly in the Middle East. His commitment to hard work and upholding strong European values has been central to his approach.

 “It has been a great honour to work alongside him, and I would like to extended my sincere thanks and best wishes to Seán on my own behalf, and on behalf of the Fianna Fáil organisation, as he embarks on a new chapter.”

 Haughey has joined fellow Dublin Bay North veteran Richard Bruton in announcing they would not contend the next general election, with Haughey’s Fine Gael counterpart announcing he will not stand for re-election last August.