Fine Gael TD for Mayo Michael Ring has said that he will not contest the next general election.
It brings to 15 the number of Fine Gael deputies not running who were elected in 2020.
Deputy Ring said serving for 30 years in Dáil Éireann and 15 years as a local councillor was the privilege of his life.
He first ran for election in 1979, when he was elected to Westport Town Council, then later Mayo County Council.
In 1994, he was first elected to the Dáil in a by-election sparked by the appointment of Padraig Flynn to the European Commission.
He was elected at every general election for the next 30 years, often competing with former taoiseach Enda Kenny to see who would take the biggest haul of votes for Fine Gael in Mayo.
Deputy Ring was previously Minister for Rural and Community Development, having twice served as Junior Minister.
The 70-year-old thanked his supporters and said he was proud of his work on the Gathering and the Wild Atlantic Way, as well as with Sport Ireland.
"It is important to me to express my gratitude to all of you who have supported me and canvassed for me since I first ran for election back in 1979," he said.
"I am profoundly thankful to have had the opportunity to serve my community and my country in various capacities, including minister of state for tourism and sport, minister for regional economic development and minister for community and rural development.
"The trust and support from my constituents has been humbling and inspiring.
"Reflecting on my three decades in the Dáil, I am proud of the significant developments and investments I have secured for Mayo and beyond, in my time as minister."
"There is never a right time to leave politics but I'm delighted to leave on my own terms," he told RTÉ's News at One.
He said that he was at an age now where he wanted to do something else in life and spend more time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Mr Ring said that ministers needed to be stronger when it came to not just listening to their department officials.
He said that ministers are elected and need to make decisions and not listen to civil servants, as ministers are answerable to the people.
"Civil servants are there to advise, ministers are there to be ministers," he said.
He said that the public service is not as good now as it was, as phones are not being answered in various departments which angers people, and that is why they turn to politicians.
Although he acknowledged it was a matter for the Taoiseach and Government, Mr Ring said a general election should be called in October or November, as winter elections are difficult and hard in rural Ireland when you cannot canvas after 4pm.
While the announcement does not come as a significant surprise, the avalanche of retirements or resignations from the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party is stark.
Mr Ring said he would continue his work for the party and praised the "strong leadership" of Simon Harris, adding that he believed Fine Gael would build on its recent electoral success.
"I will be doing everything here in Mayo to contribute to this," he said.
