FINE GAEL TD for Carlow/Kilkenny John Paul Phelan has announced he will not be seeking re-election.

He was first elected to the Dáil in 2011 and has previously served as Minister of State at the Department of Housing.

In a statement to local media, Phelan refers to how he suffered a heart attack at the height of the pandemic, when “it nearly all came to an end for me”.

“Very few people get a second chance. I’ve gotten one. I’ve been one of the lucky few. Once I regained consciousness that day a doctor asked about my work, lifestyle and the need to remove stress from my life and change how I lived. When I told him my job we both laughed. In reality that prognosis has not changed. As a result I have decided not to seek the Fine Gael nomination to contest the next General Election

“Politics is a job that demands absolute commitment, 24/7. I have given politics everything since I was first elected to Kilkenny County Council at the age of 20 and still a student. It has been my greatest honour to serve the people of Carlow and Kilkenny for the last 24 years as a councillor, Senator, TD and Junior Minister.

“I have always given everything to my role as a public representative. And while I won’t be putting my name forward for the next general election, I want to reassure the women and men who put their trust and faith in me that I am not disappearing from political life,” he said. 

Phelan said he takes his mandate from the people of Carlow and Kilkenny very seriously, stating: “I will work as hard as ever for the remainder of this Dáil term, serving all of my constituents, all of the time. There is unfinished business and I will continue to deliver for this constituency.”

In a statement this afternoon, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Phelan “has been and continues to be an excellent representative for the people of Carlow/Kilkenny as well as a committed Vice-President of the Fine Gael Party and member of our Executive Council”.

“I wish him well as he announces he will not contest the next General Election. I know in doing so he is putting his health and family first. It also gives the party ample time to select new candidates in Carlow and Kilkenny to defend our seat in the Constituency,” Varadkar said.

He said Phelan has given “24 years of dedicated public service as a Councillor, Senator, TD, and Minister of State to his community, country and party”.

“As Minister he prioritised modernisation of our electoral registration process and promoting greater gender equality in local politics. I am particularly grateful to him for the role he played as Fine Gael Director for the Local Elections of 2019 in which we won 25% of the vote and gained 20 seats,” he continued.

“He has also provided me with wise counsel down the years on issues affecting rural Ireland and the south-east region in particular, as well as political and electoral strategy. I know he’ll continue to do so.

“I know that John Paul will continue to ably represent the people of Carlow and Kilkenny until the election.”

Fine Gael seat in the constituency 

The TD said he wanted to make his intentions clear now, well in advance of the next general election, to give the Fine Gael organisation and potential candidates the time needed to establish themselves and to campaign.

He mentions how he wants Fine Gael to retain at least one seat in this constituency.

“I want to thank all those who have given me such support and encouragement over the years. This has been a huge team effort. I also want to thank and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of my family, neighbours, friends and constituents who have stood with me on this 24 year-long journey. I want to thank my Fine Gael Oireachtas colleagues for their friendship and advice over the years.

“It is an enormous privilege to stand before the people, to be chosen by the people to be their public representative, their voice in Dáil Eireann. It has been an honour and a pleasure to be able to serve my community, my constituency and my country.”

Phelan’s announcement today follows on from Fine Gael TDs Brendan Griffin and Joe McHugh also stating that they will not be seeking re-election.