Fine Gael leadership hopeful Simon Harris has paid tribute to Josepha Madigan as she announced her resignation as Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion.
Ms Madigan, a Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown, has said she will not be running in the next general election.
She said she had informed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last summer that she would not be running in the next general election.
"We have had many conversations since then, but I have not changed my mind," she said in her statement.
"I am today confirming my decision not to contest the next General Election. I am also resigning today from my ministerial position.
"I wish Simon the very best in forming a new Fine Gael ministerial team to lead the party into the next election."
Ms Madigan becomes the 11th Fine Gael TD to announce that they will not be contesting the next election.
Mr Harris said that he considered her both a "colleague and a friend".
"I fully understand and respect her decision," Mr Harris said.
"I really want to thank her for her support over the past few days. I look forward to meeting her over the weekend to thank her in person."
She was first elected to the Dáil in the 2016 General Election.
The following year she was appointed Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht where she served until 2020, when she was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion.
Last month, she sought the Fine Gael nomination to contest the European Parliament elections in June for the Dublin constituency, however, she was defeated in that contest by Senator Regina Doherty.
She described her time in politics as "an enormous honour" and thanked her constituents in Dublin Rathdown and Fine Gael members and colleagues for all their support over the last ten years.
In her statement, she said: "Politics is not an easy profession but that does not mean it is not a rewarding one.
"I hope that people with strong hearts, resilience and courage will continue to enter public life to help better our country and its people. Over the last ten years I did all I could to achieve that objective."
The outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar paid tribute to her and said she "is an extremely hard-working Fine Gael public representative".
"We first met at a Strictly Come Dancing charity fundraiser in south Dublin back in 2015 when she was a candidate for the Dáil," Mr Varadkar said.
"My partner, Matt, was one of the competitors. Shane Ross TD, then in opposition, was a judge. We hit it off and have been friends ever since.
"She is easily one of the kindest and most empathetic politicians I know. Sometimes kindness in politics is seen as weakness. I believe it is one of her strengths.
"I appointed her Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in 2017 where she kicked off my plan to double expenditure on arts and culture by 2024, which has been achieved.
"Josepha will be missed in the Dáil. I wish her the very best as she takes on a new chapter in her life after politics."
Minister for Education and Fianna Fáil TD Norma Foley said Ms Madigan was "hard-working, diligent and hugely committed to her portfolio".
"She was an excellent colleague and I sincerely wish her well in her remaining term as a TD and with all her plans for the future," Ms Foley said.
A Department of Education statement added: "Minister Madigan was the first Minister of State with a brief in special education and her drive and commitment to this work will leave a very strong legacy in our school communities and, in particular, in special education provision in Ireland."
Speaking to RTÉ's Drivetime, Senator Mary Seery Kearney said she was "really surprised" by Ms Madigan's decision to stand down.
The senator described her party colleague as "accomplished, capable and hardworking", adding that she would be a "real loss to politics".
Also speaking on Drivetime, FG Senator Barry Ward denied that the 11 FG TDs stepping down does not look good for his party.
"It's easy to read more into it than is actually there," he said.
Mr Ward said many of those not seeking re-election had "many years of service behind them and are entitled, given that length of service, to step back".
