O’Keeffe calls it a day after 33 years in Dáil

THE country’s second-longest serving TD has announced he is to step down from the Dáil to make way for a younger person.

Deputy Jim O’Keeffe, who has served an unbroken 33 years for Fine Gael in the Dáil, said his son Michael was interested in politics but wouldn’t be ready to take over from him just yet.

“He’s 24 and currently studying at the London School of Economics. He may be interested in being involved in politics in the future,” the Cork South West TD said.

“Thankfully, I’m in the full of my health. But the energy you require for frontline politics declines somewhat with age.

“It’s best for the younger generation to take up the role and I am prepared to play a supporting role,” he said.

The Bandon-based politician said he would be kept busy working as a consultant solicitor and as director of a number of companies.

First elected to the Dáil in 1977, Jim O’Keeffe has held a number of high-profile positions. During Garret Fitzgerald’s coalition government he served as minister for state at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

As Minister for Aid during Ireland’s Presidency of the EEC, he organised major food shipments during the Ethiopian famine.

He subsequently served as Minister for State at the Department of Finance.

In opposition he was shadow spokesman for foreign affairs, justice, agriculture, health social affairs and law reform. Mr O’Keeffe currently serves on the powerful Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee.

He will be particularly remembered in his own constituency for driving such initiatives as the IR£15 million West Cork Development Fund known as the Bantry Package, and the Clonakilty Area Coastal Resort Scheme which rejuvenated the tourist town.

“I have very much enjoyed serving the people of West Cork and my only regret during that time in the Dáil is that Fine Gael were mostly in opposition, where the opportunities to achieve objectives at national and local level were so much less than in Government.”

Mr O’Keeffe said he was glad in the knowledge there was a pool of candidates right across the constituency, any one of whom would make an able replacement.

“I’m confident we can put up a very strong team for the next election,” he said.

A Fine Gael declaration convention for the constituency will take place on Saturday, November 27, in the Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway.

It is unclear, as yet, if outgoing Fine Gael TD Paddy Sheehan will seek re-election.

Mr O’Keeffe said he was confident his party would do very well at the next General Election.

“The day of reckoning is coming for Fianna Fáil and it’s almost inevitable the next Government will be Fine Gael-led,” Mr O’Keeffe said.