Former Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has announced that he will not contest the next general election.
He made the announcement at the Fine Gael Laois-Offaly Constituency Executive meeting at Clonaslee Heritage Centre, Co Laois.
"It is now 36 years since I was first elected to Dáil Éireann. Between my father Oliver J and myself that's 80 years of public service and 23 General Elections. In my view now it’s time to pass the baton to a younger generation," he said.
Charlie Flanagan served as both Minister for Justice and Minister for Foreign Affairs.
"I’m honoured to have enjoyed a thoroughly fulfilling political career serving both as your TD and at the cabinet table in two of the most influential Departments of State - Foreign Affairs and Justice," he said.
Mr Flanagan said he was particularly pleased to have negotiated on behalf of the Irish Government the Stormont House Agreement & Fresh Start Agreement in Northern Ireland and to serve as Minister for Foreign Affairs at the time of the twin challenges of Brexit and Ireland’s successful pursuit of a set seat on the UN Security Council.
"During my time in Justice, I ratified the Istanbul Convention, an International Human Rights Treaty on Family Law and Domestic abuse, oversaw the publication of the landmark Report on the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and introduced transformational legislation for oversight and regulation of Judges," he said.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Charlie Flanagan has made an outstanding contribution to his constituency of Laois and Offaly, to Ireland and to Fine Gael.
"He has represented his constituency almost continuously from 1987 onwards and has been a passionate advocate for the Midlands throughout his career. He has one of the most successful electoral records in the Dáil having won eight elections," Mr Varadkar said.
The Taoiseach added that as Minister for Foreign Affairs he helped to bring about the Stormont House and the Fresh Start Agreements, and helped to steer Ireland through Brexit negotiations by convening the All-Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit.
Mr Flanagan's announcement follows Fine Gael's Joe McHugh, Brendan Griffin, John Paul Phelan, Richard Bruton, David Stanton and Michael Creed confirming they will not run in the general election.
