FF’s Ardagh and Kitt bow out

TROUBLES continued to mount for Fianna Fáil last night with confirmation that two of its Dublin TDs have decided not to put themselves forward for the next election.

Both Sean Ardagh and Tom Kitt will stand down from the Dáil when the country goes to the polls next year.

The news comes just days after Justice Minister Dermot Ahern announced his intention not to seek re-election and at a time when Transport Minister Noel Dempsey continues to avoid confirming his future.

The party lost another senior member Jim McDaid when he suddenly stepped down at the beginning of last month.

Dublin South Central TD Sean Ardagh’s decision comes less than two months after he announced his intention to return to the Dáil after winning a six-month long battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells.

At the time of his return he made it clear that he did intent to contest his seat in the next general election and the change of heart will be a bitter blow to Taoiseach and party leader Brian Cowen. Nonetheless, paying tribute to the 63 year-old backbencher, Mr Cowen said Mr Ardagh was “one of the most respected and hardest working TDs” in Fianna Fáil.

“He has shown immense commitment to Fianna Fáil and his constituents in Dublin South Central in his 25 years as a public representative,” said Mr Cowen.

“He is a thoughtful politician whose views were always held in strong regard by our parliamentary party. He was to the forefront of much valuable work during his time as chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on the Justice and more recently in his current post of chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution.”

Mr Kitt’s decision not to seek re-election is less surprising.

He had already indicated his intention to go some time back and in recent weeks and months had been a highly vocal critic of Brian Cowen.

As recently as last weekend the former junior minister said there needed to be a change of leader before the general election.

Nonetheless, Mr Cowen paid tribute to the 58-year-old Dublin South TD’s “valued contribution and his abilities”, but added that he respected Tom Kitt’s decision not to seek re-election.

He said he had worked with Mr Kitt for close to a quarter of a century and described him as a very dedicated politician “and a colleague that I respect immensely”.

“I want to especially mention Tom’s contribution in the areas of overseas aid as well as in European affairs earlier in his career,” said Mr Cowen.

“I sat at the cabinet table with Tom in Bertie Ahern’s Government where Tom was a competent, wise and skilled chief whip.”