Simon Coveney: A TD, an MEP, and many times a minister

Simon Coveney entered national politics in 1998 when he was first elected to the Dáil in a by-election, after the unexpected death of his father, Hugh.

He later spent three years as an MEP for Ireland South, before returning to the Dáil in 2007.

Speaking to this publication in 2009, Mr Coveney was bluntly upfront about his own ambition to be a minister.

He gave up his seat in the European Parliament, he told the then-titled Evening Echo, to focus on national politics, because he felt Fine Gael could be in government.

“I’m in politics to make as big a difference as I can,” he said.

“I made a choice to come back from the European Parliament to be in government to deliver for Cork, really.”

Mr Coveney said then that he was not focusing on any particular ministry, but said that having been a TD for 12 years, he was eager to show people what he could do.

Mr Coveney subsequently held multiple portfolios at Cabinet, most recently enterprise, trade, and employment.

The former deputy leader of Fine Gael was previously minister for foreign affairs, for defence, for housing, planning, and local government, and for agriculture, food, and the marine.

The Cork South Central TD was appointed tánaiste in 2017, the second tánaiste to hail from Cork. (Peter Barry was the first, in 1987.)

Mr Coveney, who held the position until 2020, acknowledged that it came with “enormous responsibility” and vowed to do everything in his power to serve the people of Ireland “with integrity and positivity”.

But as far back as 2016, Mr Coveney, now 52, had indicated that he did not envisage having a political career into his 60s.

He told the Evening Echo: “I’m often asked the question by my wife, who would love me to leave politics: ‘What would you do if you lost your seat?’

“For me, I wouldn’t be looking backwards. I’d look for a new challenge and get on with it. It’s a privilege while you’re there, and it’s a particular privilege to be in government.

“I see this as a temporary period, where I have an opportunity to make an impact on other people’s lives.

“If I’m not making progress in politics, I’ll leave.

“I have no interest in being a TD in my 60s, unless I’m doing something really constructive in that period.”