Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív will not contest next general election

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Former government minister and ex-Fianna Fáil deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív will not stand in the next general election.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin paid tribute to Mr Ó Cuív, who has been a TD for Galway West since 1992.

He served as Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2002 to 2010 and Minister for Social Protection from 2010 to 2011.

Mr Ó Cuív, a grandson of Eamon de Valera, was also the Fianna Fáil deputy leader from 2011 until 2012.

In a statement Mr Ó Cuív said: “After deep consideration, I have decided not to seek a nomination to stand in the next general election.

“In the meantime I will continue to work as usual.”

Mr Martin said: “Éamon was an outstanding parliamentarian and minister.

“He is extremely committed, hard-working and diligent.

“He has been a tremendous public representative for the people of Galway West and Cornamona.

“I worked with Éamon both in the Dáil and in cabinet, and subsequently in 2011 around the regeneration and revitalisation of the party.

“He is one of the most conscientious and dedicated politicians I’ve ever worked with.”

Mr Martin said Mr Ó Cuív had a long-term commitment to peace and reconciliation and played an important role in the lead-up to the Good Friday Agreement.

He added: “Éamon will be a huge loss to public life and I would like to pay tribute to his wife Aine and his children who gave him tremendous support throughout his career.”

Mr Ó Cuív is the latest in a long series of sitting TDs to declare they will not stand again.

The next general election would take place next year if the Coalition Government runs its full term.

However, there has been speculation that a poll could be called before then after Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil performed well in recent European and local government elections.