Fine Gael TD for Cavan-Monaghan Seymour Crawford has announced he will be stepping down from the Dáil at the next election.
Mr Crawford was first elected to the Dáil in November 1992 and was returned on each election since. Previously he served as a public representative on Monaghan County Council.
During his time in the Dáil Mr Crawford held several positions within Fine Gael party dealing with agriculture and food, social and family affairs, environment and health.
He also served as vice chairman of the British Irish Parliamentary Body. "I believe I had some role in helping to build relations both between Dublin and Westminster and the Northern Ireland Assembly," he said.
Mr Crawford said although it was a “great privilege and honour” to be involved in the political life of the country he feels “desperate and saddened” the State has “been allowed to drift into such a terrible position”.
He said many of his constituents have been left feeling “extremely low and without hope” due to the crisis and as a result he is stepping aside to allow a “younger generation come forward”.
Mr Crawford joins a number of long-serving deputies set to retire at the next election. Party colleagues Olwyn Enright in Laois-Offaly and PJ Sheehan in Cork South West will also step down. In total, at least 11 sitting TDs will not be contesting the poll.