Former minister Éamon Ó Cuív will not contest the next general election and is to retire from politics.
“After deep consideration, I have decided not to seek a nomination to stand in the next general election,” Mr Ó Cuív said in a statement on Wednesday. “In the meantime I will continue to work as usual. I would like to thank everybody who supports me in my work.”
Mr Ó Cuív has been a Fianna Fáil TD for the Galway West constituency since the 1992 general election.
He previously served as deputy leader of Fianna Fáil from 2011 to 2012; minister for social protection from 2010 to 2011; minister for community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs from 2002 to 2010; and as a minister of state from 1997 to 2002.
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He also served as minister for the environment, community and local government and minister for defence from January to March 2011.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin paid tribute to Mr Ó Cuív following the announcement.
“Eamon was an outstanding parliamentarian and minister,” he said. “He is extremely committed, hard-working and diligent. He has been a tremendous public representative for the people of Galway West and Cornamona.
“I worked with Eamon both in the Dáil and in cabinet, and subsequently in 2011 around the regeneration and revitalisation of the party. He is one of the most conscientious and dedicated politicians I’ve ever worked with.”
Mr Martin said Mr Ó Cuív had a long-term commitment to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland and played an important role in the lead up to the Belfast Agreement.
“In his capacity as minister for the Gaeltacht and rural affairs, he was pioneering and innovative in terms of the language Act and a new era of support for the Irish language.
“He developed the Clár programme, which was the first of its kind in terms of support for rural Ireland.
“Eamon will be a huge loss to public life and I would like to pay tribute to his wife Áine and his children who gave him tremendous support throughout his career.”
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