CORK NORTH CENTRAL TD Noel O’Flynn has become the latest Fianna Fáil deputy to announce that he will not be contesting the forthcoming general election.

Deputy O’Flynn said that he made his decision to retire from politics after consulting with family members, supporters, and his party leader Micheál Martin.

O’Flynn said that the decision was “very, very difficult”, and said: “I am retiring because I believe that if we run two candidates we run the risk of no Fianna Fáil TD being elected in Cork North Central.  That is not in the interests of the party or the constituents of Cork North Central… I came to conclusion that we have to do what is right for the country, the people and the party.”

He urged his party colleagues to “put the people and the party first” and reconsider contesting the upcoming election if it could hurt Fianna Fáil’s prospects in their constituency.

O’Flynn’s decision brings to 20 the number of Fianna Fáil TDs that have announced their intention to step down before the general election.