FG to lose Enright after she decides not to seek re-election for family reasons

FINE GAEL TD Olwyn Enright has attributed her decision not to contest the next general election solely to family reasons.

Ms Enright, who has represented Laois-Offaly since 2002, said the demands on a rural TD were not compatible with family life.

Ms Enright has a 10-month-old son and is expecting her second child in December. Her husband, Joe McHugh, who is also a Fine Gael TD and represents Donegal North East, will continue in politics. “Ever since I first became involved in politics I have enjoyed dedicating myself to the tasks involved. However, my personal circumstances have changed greatly since I was first elected and in the longer term, with a young family, I will not be in the position to give the enormous commitment the position requires, and that my constituents deserve.”

Ms Enright, 36, was appointed as Fine Gael spokeswoman on education following her election to the Dáil in 2002 and served in that role until 2007, when she was appointed spokeswoman on social affairs.

She served in the latter role until the failed heave against party leader Enda Kenny earlier this year. Ms Enright was among those who supported Richard Bruton in his unsuccessful attempt to oust Mr Kenny.

Despite supporting Mr Bruton, Ms Enright was considered likely to have been included in Mr Kenny’s new front bench. But she informed Mr Kenny she did not wish to be considered given she was expecting her second child. Similarly, Ms Enright would have been considered a strong candidate for a ministerial role if Fine Gael won the next election. But she said yesterday that a ministerial job would have made the work-life balance even harder to achieve.

“The way I look at that is it would have been even more difficult to be a minister while my children are young, because I’d be away even more,” she said.

“This has been a difficult decision that I have deliberated over for some time and I have made this announcement now to enable the local Fine Gael organisation time to select a team of candidates to retain the seat for the party.”

Ms Enright will continue as a TD until the next election – which must be held by the summer of 2012 – but Fine Gael will immediately focus on identifying candidates to run for her seat.

The party holds two of the five seats in the constituency, considered a Fianna Fáil stronghold because it is home to Taoiseach Brian Cowen.