Louth TD Kirk will not contest next general election

Louth TD Seamus Kirk has announced that he will not be standing as a candidate in the next general election.

The former Ceann Comhairle has made the decision on health grounds. He was first elected to the Dáil for Fianna Fail in 1987.

Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin has paid tribute to him saying the esteem in which he is held was evidenced in his time as Ceann Comhairle, where he commanded deep respect from politicians across Leinster House.