Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South Deirdre Clune has confirmed that she will not contest the European elections next time round.
Her departure is another blow for the party as she is the second sitting Fine Gael MEP to declare that they will step down next June.
Dublin MEP and former Minister Frances Fitzgerald has also said she will not run again.
Ms Clune has been an MEP since 2014 and was previously a TD for Cork South Central and a Senator.
In a statement she said: "Politics is demanding. It requires much sacrifice, not least from close family members. There is absolutely no doubt that without the support of my family, I would not have had the privilege to serve in public office."
Fine Gael party leader Leo Varadkar said: "Her distinguished career of more than 26 years speaks for itself as she has served her constituents proudly and admirably in the European Parliament, Dáil, Seanad and as Lord Mayor of Cork and a city councillor.
"Not many politicians have achieved this feat of being elected to almost every possible chamber at local, national and international level by the electorate."
Fine Gael is expected to select European candidates in the new year following the completion of the boundary review of constituencies which is under way by the Electoral Commission.
This work will be published before 27 November.
An extra seat is expected to be assigned to the Midlands-North-West constituency.
Some names suggested for Ireland South for Fine Gael include Wexford TD Paul Keogh and Senator Jerry Buttimer.
They could contest alongside sitting MEP Sean Kelly.
Several other names have been floated for Dublin including Senators Barry Ward and Regina Doherty as well as former TD Noel Rock.
