People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith to stand down at next election

While Bríd Smith will not stand again, she intends to remain politically active. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

People Before Profit's (PBP) Bríd Smith has announced that she will be standing down at the next election.

The Dublin South-Central TD was first elected to the Dáil in the 2016 General Election, but had previously served as a councillor on Dublin City Council between 2009 and 2016.

Ms Smith does not intend to resign her seat, but will stay on until the end of the Dáil term.

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Ms Smith said that she wanted to make room for “the next generation” of young working class people.

“I really think what we need in Dáil Éireann is a new generation of young working class people who know what it is really like to live the sort of life of inequality and social injustice that we witness in this country,” Ms Smith said.

“Now is the moment to promote a new generation.” 

PBP councillor for Ballyfermot/Drimnagh Hazel De Nortúin has been selected to stand for the party in the Dublin South-Central constituency.

Ms Smith said that Ms De Nortúin would be a “wonderful candidate” for PBP and described her as a “young socialist fighter”.

Asked if PBP would potentially be vulnerable at the next election, Ms Smith admitted that left-wing candidates did face a challenge by the rise of Sinn Féin but they were not “obsolete”.

“I do think there is a space in South-Central in particular, which is a very left-wing constituency, for a socialist TD.” 

While she does not intend to stand again, Ms Smith said that she would not cease being politically active and would be campaigning for Ms De Nortúin at the next election.

“I’m not hanging up me boots by any manner or means, I’ll be out there fighting with her [De Nortúin], promoting her and making sure she wins the seat next time around.” 

Asked about her achievements, Ms Smith cited her work on both the water charges and Repeal the Eighth campaign, as well as the people she met during her time as a TD.

“I have to say my best bits were the people I met along the way. I met wonderful people, both in the constituency and beyond.

“People who daily face really difficult struggles, whether its due to health, or poverty or homelessness or the environment indeed, but who face them with great courage and who fight back.”