'Mixed emotions' as former housing minister Eoghan Murphy resigns as TD
Eoghan Murphy said it was a 'personal decision' to resign his seat.
Former housing minister Eoghan Murphy says he has "mixed emotions" about his decision to resign his seat as a TD for Dublin Bay South.
The Fine Gael TD, who has served in the Dáil since 2011 as a TD, minister of state and as a Cabinet minister, wrote to the Ceann Comhairle this morning to confirm his resignation.
He is resigning to pursue a career in international development and said it was “a personal decision” to stand down.
His resignation will mean a by-election will need to be held in the Dublin Bay South constituency.
Speaking to the show, Mr Murphy said the decision brought with it "mixed emotions" and that it was "daunting".
He said that he has spoken to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar about his resignation, but insisted that not being appointed to a ministerial brief did not colour his feelings towards his role.
"Before I was in politics, I was in international arms control and since Christmas, I've been thinking about these last 12 years in politics and I decided I wanted to get back into international politics."
Mr Murphy said that it would not be right to "take a very generous salary" to do a job that he was "not 100% committed to".
The TD said he did not have a job lined up and has "not been applying for jobs" but would do so now.
Mr Murphy said that his time in Housing had been a "challenging brief" but said that "criticism was absolutely fair".
He said that the personal abuse he had received was "tough", but said he understood if people took issue with his policy choices.
He said that a conversation was needed on the wider issue of abuse suffered by politicians, particularly women.
Mr Murphy said that an incident in last year's election campaign, which saw a homeless man injured by an industrial machine under a lampost bearing one of his posters made him "extremely angry".
"You think 'what the hell? How can one person do this to another'?"
Mr Murphy said that he had "fixed some things" but said that he "regrets" not solving the emergency accommodation crisis.
He said he had been approached by a woman whose child had not developed motor skills because of the cramped nature of hotel rooms.
He said his reaction to that was "not on my watch" but the problem was not fixed in his tenure, something which he regrets.
He said that his frustrations were with "bureaucratic hurdles" and the speed with which the State can move.
Mr Murphy said that his comments that co-living was "like living in a trendy boutique hotel" were "pure foot in mouth syndrome".
He said that after he made those comments he was "kicking himself".
He said that he had asked Mr Varadkar for "a breather" after last year's general election, having had a "long run" of major work. He said that he is "not unhappy" as a TD, but wants to take on another challenge.
The former minister said that he will support the Government, saying that Micheál Martin is a "good and honourable man".
Prior to entering Leinster House, Mr Murphy was elected a Dublin city councillor in 2009 for the Pembroke-Rathmines constituency.
Having served as Housing Minister in the last Dáil, he was controversially snubbed from even a junior ministerial role this time around.
In a statement, Mr Murphy said: "It has been a huge privilege to serve the Dublin Bay South constituency, first as a councillor and then as a TD.”
"In my late 20s, I worked in the UN system before I returned to Ireland to get involved alongside many other people looking to play their part in the national recovery at the time.
"And now, after 12 years of service and having reflected upon things, I have made the decision to return to international affairs.
“I have resigned my seat today, not to leave politics entirely, but to pursue a career in the area of international co-operation, human rights and democracy.
“I want to thank all who I have worked alongside in Fine Gael, in the Oireachtas, in various government departments, in Dublin City Council and numerous other agencies and bodies who serve the Irish people so well.
“It has been an honour and I wish you all every success in the future.
“I finally want to thank all in my constituency who put their faith in me so many years ago and have stood by me ever since. I will be eternally grateful.”
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