'On my terms': Waterford's Paudie Coffey explains why he's not running in the General Election

"I'm happy I've made the right decision. I need to do things for myself and my family now. That's the way it is."

Waterford Senator Paudie Coffey has said in an emotional interview that family - not health, money or any other reason - lay behind his decision not to run in the upcoming General Election.

Senator Coffey - who will be 50 this year - said: "I've done 20 years in politics and I've enjoyed every bit of it...The primary reason (for stepping down from politics) is that I want to spend more time with my family". He has three children with wife Suzanne; aged 16, 14 and 10.