Retiring Fine Gael TD's son may join nomination race in Cork East

Mark Stanton may face competition from Cobh councillor Sinéad Sheppard and European election candidate John Mullins

Cork East TD David Stanton confirmed last May that he will not be looking to retain his seat after the current Dáil term. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The son of retiring Cork East TD David Stanton is eyeing a run at the Fine Gael nomination to replace him.

Mark Stanton, a former University College Cork (UCC) Students’ Union president, is expected to put himself forward at the Fine Gael convention in Cork East on July 19, as the party looks to retain the seat his father has held since 1997.

It is believed that Mr Stanton would face competition from Cobh councillor Sinéad Sheppard among others, though party sources said that he has a “good chance” of being the party’s nominee.

It is understood that European candidate John Mullins could also seek the nomination, though his status is seen as largely dependent on the future of Simon Coveney in Cork South-Central.

Mr Stanton, a former minister of state at the Department of Justice, confirmed last May that he will not be looking to retain his seat after this term.

In a statement at the time, he said: “It has been the utmost privilege of mine to have represented the constituents of Cork East since my first general election in 1997 and at the five subsequent elections.

A highlight of my career was being appointed minister of state at the Department of Justice with special responsibility for equality, immigration, and integration in 2016. 

Mr Stanton also thanked his family, who he said had provided him with “great fortitude throughout my time as a public representative”.

Fine Gael has set a deadline of September 22 for the completion of its selection conventions, meaning that a spate will be held in the coming weeks before the Dáil recess.

However, Government sources denied that this was an indication of an early election coming in the autumn.

A party statement earlier this week said: “With the conclusion of the local and European elections, the Fine Gael executive council has requested that all Fine Gael Dáil selection conventions take place by September 22.

“This is to ensure that new candidates have ample opportunity to prepare, receive training, and build profiles in advance of the general election which is due on or before March 22, 2025.”

However, despite the insistence from those in Government and Fine Gael, the belief across political parties is that an election will come in either late October or early November.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has been adamant that the coalition will run its course until next March, but ministers have privately conceded that going beyond December is now unlikely.

Mr Coveney is under pressure to announce his decision on his political future in the coming days.

Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan has said that he will seek the nomination in Cork South-Central in the weeks ahead.

Mr O’Callaghan is among a number of strongly tipped candidates to replace Mr Coveney, but a number of names are also being touted as potential contenders in the upcoming Cork South-Central selection convention on July 23.