'Time to pass the baton': Former justice minister Charlie Flanagan will not contest next election

Mr Flanagan announced his decision on Monday night at a Laois-Offaly Fine Gael constituency meeting in Clonaslee.

Charlie Flanagan also said politics has become an “ever demanding and increasingly high-pressure career”. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Fine Gael TD and former justice minister Charlie Flanagan has announced he will not contest the next general election.

The announcement will serve as a further blow to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as Mr Flanagan becomes the eighth TD that has announced they will not contest the next election.