FORMER MINISTER for education, agriculture and health Dr Michael Woods last night became the latest Fianna Fáil TD to announce he will not be standing in the forthcoming general election.
He joins Minister for Defence Tony Killeen and Minister of State for Housing Michael Finneran, who also announced their impending retirements in the last two days.
Speaking to a party meeting in Kilbarrack in his Dublin North-East constituency, Dr Woods, who celebrated his 75th birthday last month, said he had spent 46 years full-time in the public service.
“It has been an honour for me to serve my constituents and my country over this time,” said Dr Woods, who currently chairs the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs.
He pointed out that he had served in government with five taoisigh. “I served five times as Minister for Social Welfare, three times in Health, twice in Marine and Natural Resources, once in Agriculture and Food and once in Education and Science.” He was first elected to the Dáil in 1977 and prior to that worked as a Principal Officer in the Agricultural Research Institute.
Paying tribute to Dr Woods, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said: “His decision not to contest the next election brings to a conclusion a remarkable career in politics full to the brim of achievement and delivery for the Irish people.”
He added: “Michael is the last link in our parliamentary party with the governments led by Jack Lynch.”
Dr Woods will receive a pension as a former TD and minister amounting to an estimated €106,000 per annum, which is taxable, plus a non-taxable lump sum of approximately €160,000.
As a poll-topper in Dublin North-East, his retirement opens up the race for the Dáil in that constituency, where his party currently holds only one of the three Dáil seats.
Earlier, the Taoiseach paid tribute to Mr Killeen and Mr Finneran.
In a statement, Mr Killeen, who will be 59 in June, said his decision to step down at the election followed medical appraisal and advice in recent weeks.
“I have informed the Taoiseach of my decision and I am deeply grateful to him for his backing, particularly during my illness and cancer treatment,” he said.
As a retired TD and minister he will receive an estimated €82,000 per annum (taxable) as a pension plus a non-taxable lump sum of approximately €140,700.
Prior to his appointment as Minister of Defence on March 23rd last, he had been Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry) since May 2008. His departure may facilitate the other Fianna Fáil TD for Clare, Timmy Dooley, holding his seat. The other two Clare seats are held by Fine Gael.
Mr Finneran (63) said in a statement that his decision not to seek a nomination at the selection convention for Roscommon-South Leitrim followed “long consultation and deliberation with my family over the Christmas period”.
As a retired TD and minister of state, Mr Finneran will receive an estimated annual pension of €60,000 plus non-taxable lump sum of approximately €143,400.
He was a member of Seanad Éireann from 1989 to 2002, when he was elected to the Dáil. In 2008 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government with responsibility for Housing and Local Services.
His retirement is a blow to the Fianna Fáil organisation in Roscommon-South Leitrim, where Mr Finneran topped the poll in the 2007 general election.
Two out of the three seats are currently held by Fine Gael.
DEPARTING TDs NOT STANDING
As of yesterday, 26 TDs had announced their intention not to contest the general election – 13 from Fianna Fáil, eight Fine Gael, three Labour, one Sinn Féin and one Independent.
FIANNA FÁIL: Seán Ardagh, Bertie Ahern (former taoiseach), Dermot Ahern (Minister for Justice), Martin Cullen (former minister for arts, sport and tourism, who resigned last March), Noel Dempsey (Minister for Transport), Tony Killeen (Minister for Defence), Michael Finneran (Minister of State for Housing), Beverly Flynn, Tom Kitt, Dr James McDaid (resigned last November), M.J. Nolan, Dr Rory O’Hanlon, Dr Michael Woods.
FINE GAEL: Ulick Burke, Paul Connaughton, Seymour Crawford, Olwyn Enright, George Lee (resigned last February), Padraic McCormack, Jim O’Keeffe, P.J. Sheehan.
LABOUR: Michael D. Higgins, Liz McManus, Mary Upton.
SINN FÉIN: Arthur Morgan.
INDEPENDENT: Jackie Healy-Rae.
