Dukes to retire from politics

Former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes has announced his intention to retire from politics after losing his Dáil seat in Kildare south in last week’s general election.

Mr Dukes was one of several senior Fine Gael members who failed to retain their seats.

The party is now facing the need for serious reform and the more immediate issue of a leadership contest following Michael Noonan’s resignation on Saturday night.

Mr Noonan, who took over Fine Gael when John Bruton’s popularity plummeted in the opinion polls, quickly stepped down after it became apparent that the party would lose more than 20 sitting TDs, including Alan Shatter, Nora Owen, Mr Dukes, Jim Higgins and Frances Fitzgerald.

Some senior Fine Gael figures have said that the leadership battle should be delayed for a couple of months, at least until after the Seanad elections.