Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
FINE GAEL TD Joe Carey has resigned as a public representative and confirmed that he will not contest the next General Election.
The Clare politician, who has been on sick leave since March last year, said his decision was based on medical advice.
In a statement, Carey said he had to put himself, his wife and his family first and retire from a job that he loved.
“In the past year, I suffered a life-altering medical situation that I will be dealing with for the rest of my time on earth,” he said.
While I would dearly wish to continue, my decision to step away is based on medical advice.
“I have had the absolute privilege to serve for the past 25 years as a public representative, eight as a County Councillor and 17 as a TD. I want to express my sincere thanks to my constituents who elected me to represent them on Clare County Council and in Dáil Éireann on six separate occasions.”
Carey was first elected to Clare County Council in 1999 at the age of 23. A native of Clarecastle, he went on to be elected to Dáil Éireann in 2007 and retained his seat in the 2011, 2016 and 2020 elections.
In his letter to party members, Carey said he wanted to express his gratitude to them for campaigning with him throughout his political career.
“It is hard to believe but 25 years have passed since I was first elected to Clare County Council. It has been the greatest honour and privilege to be elected as a Fine Gael TD for County Clare at four successive General Elections,” Carey said.
He thanked the “extraordinary people” who have worked in his office over the years, his election team, Clare Fine Gael members and the general public “for their patience and understanding throughout his illness”.
Carey paid tribute to his sister Leonora and brother Donal, the extended Carey family and his friends.
“The Fine Gael parliamentary party have been really supportive as have Oireachtas members from all political parties and none. I have been blown away by the messages, cards, texts, mass bouquets and get-well wishes.”
He also wished Taoiseach Simon Harris “all the best” in the upcoming General Election.
“His impact has already been spectacular, and I strongly expect the ‘Harris Hop’ to be firmly enjoyed in County Clare and throughout the Country when the next General Election comes around,” he added.
Throughout his career, Carey served as Deputy Spokesperson on Justice with special responsibility for Juvenile Justice and Assistant Government Chief Whip.
He chaired the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Administration, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, respectively.
He was also appointed to the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly and chaired the Committee on Sovereign Matters.
Paying tribute to Carey, the Taoiseach said he is an “outstanding champion for the people of Clare”.
Joe Carey is an outstanding champion for the people of Clare.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) August 26, 2024
Joe is putting his health first and he has all of our support in Fine Gael on that journey.
He leaves the Clare constituency ready for the future and is moving to his next chapter with all of our support. pic.twitter.com/SyqlnPNNaW
“Joe is putting his health first and he has all of our support in Fine Gael on that journey,” Harris said.
“He leaves the Clare constituency ready for the future and is moving to his next chapter with all of our support.”
Education Minister Patrick O’Donovan also wished his “good friend and neighbour” Carey the best.
“I’ve known Joe for years and in that time he has been a great servant to The Banner. I wish him good health for the years ahead,” O’Donovan said.
Clare Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway said it has been a privilege to work with Carey for the last twenty years, particularly the last thirteen years as part of the Oireachtas.
“We have worked together as members of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party to ensure Government delivered for County Clare and its people,” he said.
“Joe has been a great advocate for the people of County Clare. In recent times, Joe has undergone significant medical challenges and I have no doubt it has been a very difficult time for him.
“I would like to wish Joe, Grace and their family the very best for the future.”
His sister Leonora, who has served as Chair of Fine Gael’s National Executive Council, is hoping to retain the seat held by Carey since 2007.
Leonora Carey is currently employed as Occupational Therapist Manager with the University of Limerick Hospitals Group having previously worked with Milford Care Centre.
“Although I have held positions at officer level in Clare and Dublin Central for almost 30 years, I am fully aware that there is no greater honour than working on behalf of your neighbours, friends and community as a public representative,” she said.
“The issues facing people in Clare and the Mid-West require a new approach to how politicians can make a real difference to the lives of ordinary people. Over the coming weeks, I will be engaging with party members to give me the opportunity to make that difference.
“If I’m fortunate enough to be selected as a Fine Gael candidate and win election to the Dáil, I will work full time to deliver a better future for the people of Clare,” Carey added.
The Fine Gael selection convention will be held in The West County Hotel, Ennis on Friday, 6 September.
With reporting from Gordon Deegan.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
It’s a scary thing that nearly 10 years after that spectacular crash there is not a single substantive regulation in place to prevent it happening all over again.
They can still gamble with depositors and savers cash in most countries, and they could still create another house of cards that will come crashing down, and come back to us with the exact same excuse of ”you have to bail us out or your savings and deposits will come crashing down with us”
Don’t worry though, we have a secondary school teacher who was a disaster in every ministerial portfolio he’s ever been in charge of on the case…
It’s strange how many seem to believe Hilary Clinton will be the solution and that she will take on big banking, when in fact it was her husband who repealed the Glass-Steagal act and her highest donors so far are Goldman Sachs
Is this 1892? Why are you judging people based on what their husbands think?
Because she has quite clearly endorsed her husband’s platform, both when he was in office and recently..
Teacher? When was the last time Noonan taught?
There are several reasons why Hillary can be said to be pro-bailout and pro-moral hazard:
1. She voted for it
2. Bill has said the repeal of the wall between depository and investment banking was the biggest mistake he made in his Presidency, she has said it was not a big deal.
3. She is SWIMMING in corporate cash, esp from the financial industry.
Much of the time we compare well to the US system. If I’m elected Taoiseach, I don’t have to worry, as Obama does, that my own party in parliament won’t support the policies I ran on, I know they will because of the whip (which has its downsides but IMO more pro than con) but in this case we compare badly, were v similar. We did no financial reform, at least they did some token reform and a token stimulus, we did nothing
If I am elected Taoiseach … I thought you wanted to be elected Prime Minister Ryan … just saying …ignore if wrong !
Stop being a purposeful tool Dermot, it’s trying. They are the same bloody thing.
I’d have to check his teacher pension statement to answer that one Reg
They are not the same thing Ryan ..In Britain the Prime Minister bows to a sovereign Monarch , in Ireland the people are the sovereign !
You are so full of it Ryan !
Ireland is no longer SOVEREIGN,no if’s buts or any other argument about it,they like spain Greece Portugal etc etc have given up their SOVEREIGNTY to the unelected EUSSR.
Both Noonan and Kenny almost got away with the teachers pensions they never earned, they held their jobs for all the years in the Dail using substitute teachers to earn their pensions for them, the same substitutes usually graduates were not entitled to holiday pay or to contribute to their own public service pension.
Another example of low standards in high places.
If this judge cannot rule then why is he a judge ?
In fairness to Gerry Adams he can’t cut a hedge , but we don’t pay tax for Gerry Adams to cut hedges …that kinda thing …
Does this judge deserve to sit on the benches after proving total incapacity in the role for which he takes a salary ? particulary when Irish Law allows for Appeals … Why was it not referred to the Irish Supreme Court if he was too incompetent to rule , or why was another judge not appointed to the case in the first place !
Irish Law degrees ;- what a waste of a poor little calf’s skin !
She…
She wasn’t too incompetent, I’m sure O’Malley J had plenty of opinions of an intellectual vigour that would put you to shame, however under the law she hasn’t the jurisdiction to express them..
We were promised during Traeties that Irish Law would supercede European law ..No wonder theUnion is going to break up ..it is so riddled with lies that it is now an unholy beast of a thing !
Thanks Paul ..it just shows the conditioning …expect judges to be Male ..ah well mea culpa !
First thing of import to note, the ECJ is entirely unconnected to the European Commission and has regularly in fact ruled against the outcome the commission would have hoped for, so people shouldn’t worry about any kind of bias in this judgment..
Secondly, this has nothing to do with the promissory notes or the bank guarentee, both will be entirely unaffected by this decision..
Michael Noonan admitted that the Promissory Note deal was Illegal after he had it pushed through a drunken Dail.Stephen Donnelly questioned the illegality of it at the time …therefore the Promissory deal must be illegal !
If it illegal to drive a car when drunk then why is not illegal to vote on the future of the Nation when drunk ?
Killjoy, you are well named,lol !
And the high court said that it was legal when Joan Collins took a case.. I think TD’s being drunk while in session is a disgrace, but it makes no difference as to the legality of the outcome of a vote
I think the Irish Citizens should change that law and indeed other cases and compus mentis means that we shouldn’t even have to !
We ought to have a constitutional amendment to ban any future bailouts.
Non compus mentis is to do with criminal law, nothing to do with the legislative process.. And go ahead and change that law, won’t change the legality of the promissory note vote
there was no promissory note vote… after being found illegal, the prom note was converted into soverign debt…
The prom notes were converted into illegal sovereign debt by a vote backed by Fine Gael, Labour and a Michael Martin who said that he “trusted” the TAOISEACH … I WATCHED HIM AND HE LOOKING UP TO THE GALLERY OR CLOCK AS HE SMIRKED !
cAPS LOCKS SORRY !
Well if the decision goes to Europe we all know how that’s going to play out..Seriously!!
The judge is obliged the remit the matter to the ECJ as EU law is “supranational” and all the judge is doing is saving vast amounts of taxpayer’s money and court time whilst seeking a definitive answer to a highly important question. Remember, both sides cannot be correct and the shareholders do have certain rights such as to peaceable enjoyment of their property free from state interference . It looks like clear interference so the role of the ECJ is most welcome as it will bring clarity to a very important issue for thousands of citizens !
Fair enough in one sense ..but Permanent T.S.B. is owned by the people of this State.
It is regulated by the Irish Central Bank and was at the time.
And the Bank guarantee was voted on by the Irish Government under advise from an Irish Attorney General !
Are all our legal set-ups only a front for Angela and the Rotcshilds or what ?
Are all our legal set-ups only a front for Angela and the Rotcshilds or what ?
yes.
A pleasure Dermot,
These days I always check the gender of the judge when something unusual is announced..
Also note there is no mention of the “Supreme Court” which would tie in to your point about the supremacy of Irish Law…
This looks like a judge trying to buy time for the government. Let’s just see if PTSB will still be around by the time the ECJ rules.
Another vulture circling I’d say Paul !
The bank was overcapitalised after the government issues shares at a massive discount then flogged its main asset.
Go Piotr!
have your say