Coveney rules out running in European elections 

Minister also said he has not decided whether to run for the Dáil at next general election

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney speaking to the delegates at the start of the Ard Fheis in Galway. Picture: Sasko Lazarov

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney has quashed speculation that he will run for Fine Gael in the upcoming European elections.

At the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Galway, Mr Coveney said that he had no intention of running for Europe and that he is yet to make up his mind on whether to run again for the Dáil.

He told reporters: “The decisions that I’ve made this week were not paving the way for me to do something else like entering European politics again, that was never the intention."

He said that speculation that he would contest for Ireland South was “not based on anything”.

Currently, Fine Gael is running incumbent MEP Séan Kelly and Cork businessman John Mullins in the Ireland South constituency.

On whether or not he would run for a seat in Cork South Central at the next election, the former Fine Gael deputy leader reiterated that he would “take the summer to think about it”.

“I may or may not run in the next election. I haven’t decided yet and I’m not going to be rushed into it,” Mr Coveney said.

“I’ll take a bit of time to think about it.” 

He said that, in the wake of his decision to step down from Cabinet, a number of Fine Gael councillors have indicated that they would put themselves forward for selection in Cork South Central.

Asked if he would like to see a Fine Gael TD from Cork appointed to Cabinet, Mr Coveney said that he would.

"Might be in the junior minister ranks, we’ll see," Mr Coveney said.

On his own decision to step down from Cabinet, Mr Coveney said that it was nothing to do with being "shafted" by the new Fine Gael leader.

“I don’t know whether I would have been in the Cabinet next week. I did speak to Simon [Harris] about it a number of times. You’ll have to ask himwhat his view is on that,” he said.

"Honestly, my decision wasn’t about being shafted or anything like that.

"It was kind of a deeper one for me. I’ve had 26 years in politics. It’s been an extraordinary privilege.

"I’ve basically done nothing else in life from a working perspective. I’ve been 13 years, the longest serving along with Leo, Fine Gael minister ever. I felt it was time to give somebody an opportunity.”