Labour's Brendan Howlin will not contest next election

Labour Party TD Brendan Howlin, who has confirmed he will not be contesting the next general election. Picture: Andy Gibson.

Former Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin will not contest the next election.

The Wexford TD announced today that he has made the decision not to run again.

In a statement he said: “I wish today to inform my constituents in Wexford and the broader Labour family that having served as an elected member of Dáil Éireann continuously since 1987, I will not be contesting the next General Election.

“It has been and remains the privilege of my life to have represented my beloved Wexford in nine consecutive Dáileanna. I am forever grateful for the support I have received for almost four decades from the Wexford people and the wonderful members of the Labour Party. I remember those friends and comrades who have passed on down the years whose loyalty and fellowship I will always treasure.

“I have been most fortunate to have held many public offices. I have been Leader and Deputy Leader of my party. I have served as a Cabinet Minister in three governments and witnessed the positive transformation of our country, both economically and culturally. I have had the opportunity to introduce into law many important and transformative pieces of legislation.

“I am aware that the business of government and public representation is never done. We still have many major challenges to overcome as a people – providing houses for all, eliminating poverty and creating true equality.

“After the next General Election that task will fall to others. For my part I will continue to work to the best of my ability for all Wexford people. I will also do all that I can to ensure that our great county continues to be served by a Labour TD in the decades to come.”

Mr Howlin's departure brings to a close 40 years in national politics, 36 of which were spent as a TD. In that period, he served as Minister for Health and Minister for the Environment in the early 90s Rainbow Coalition and spent five years as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform between 2011 and 2016. He was first elected to the Dáil for Wexford in 1987, being elected in every general election since, serving as a TD over nine Dáileanna.

He became Labour leader in 2016 but stepped down after the 2020 general election in which Labour secured just six seats.

Ivana Bacik, Leader of the Labour Party said that Mr Howlin had served with "immense energy and tenacity".

“I wish to pay tribute to my colleague and friend, Brendan Howlin who has announced today that he will not be running in the next General Election after representing the constituency of Wexford in the Oireachtas with immense energy and tenacity over the last four decades. His advice and support has been invaluable to so many of us, and he has ably served our Party at every level most recently as our Party Leader from 2016 to 2020.

“Brendan’s record of public service is enormously impressive. As a Minister in the Department of Health, Department of the Environment and, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform he has a proven record of delivery, legislative change and reform."