Simon Coveney to leave politics
Political speculation as to who Fine Gael will field in the next general election went into overdrive yesterday following confirmation from Simon Coveney TD that he won’t be running.
Names like recent MEP candidate John Mullins and Cork City Councillor Shane O’Callaghan have been mentioned. Cllr O’Callaghan confirmed last month he intends to seek the party’s nomination to run in the forthcoming general election in Cork South Central.
Coveney won’t be the only heavy hitter not running in the 4-seat constituency with Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath set to start his European Commissioner role later this year. The other two seats are filled by An Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.
In a letter to Fine Gael members, Deputy Coveney said: “I know I took many by surprise in April when I announced that I would not be available to serve in cabinet after the Fine Gael leadership change. I hope that decision made Simon Harris's challenge of creating renewal within the party a little easier. It was the right decision and we've seen the benefits of new leadership and fresh faces in cabinet in the elections in June.”
He said: “All my political career I have tried to do what's right for Cork, for the country that I love and for our party that I've given my working life to since the age of 25. However, I have come to the view some time ago that it's time for me to step out of politics at the next election, after the extraordinary privilege of serving this constituency for 26 years. I hope you can respect my decision to seek new horizons in life outside of Dáil Eireann.
“I've loved almost every day of public life. I've had opportunities in politics that I could never have dreamt possible before 1998; as a councillor, a TD, a Minister and as Tánaiste.”
He continued: “It's a career that's taken me to every corner of the world, from the Oval Office to refugee camps in Gaza, from Belfast to Brussels, from Kiev to the Kremlin, from Turners Cross to Crosshaven and so much more. In truth, it's all been possible only because of the trust and generosity of the people of Cork South Central to whom I'll be forever grateful. At every election since 1998 they have put their faith in me and I've always tried to deliver for them and make them proud. I wouldn't be leaving if I didn't believe the future was bright.”
Before hanging up his minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment boots earlier this year, he was prior to December 2022, minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence.
He previously served as tánaiste from November 2017 to June 2020, and minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government as well as minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
For the 6 month period to the end of June 2013 Simon chaired the EU Council of Agriculture & Fisheries Ministers where he was at the forefront regarding EU efforts in respect of Common Agriculture as well as Common Fisheries Policy reforms. The Defence portfolio was added to his brief in July 2014.
Simon was first elected to the Dáil in 1998 as one of Fine Gael’s youngest TDs.
He was elected to the European Parliament in 2004 and was a member of the EPP-ED group. He was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee.
He was also a member of Cork County Council and the Southern Health Board from 1999 to 2003.