Coveney: I hope I have earned my place in politics, in the Dáil, in the European Parliament, and around the cabinet table

Simon Coveney has announced his departure from politics after a quarter of century representing Cork

Simon Coveney said: 'I am somebody who wants society to change and move in the right direction, who wants Ireland to be a positive, progressive, ambitious country that is successful, that provides careers for young people as they grow up, that responds to social needs in terms of vulnerable people.' Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Thrust into politics a quarter of a century ago as a result of a family tragedy, he has announced his departure on his own terms.

Outgoing Fine Gael TD, former minister and former Tánaiste Simon Coveney, who has represented Cork South Central since the 1998 by-election triggered by the tragic drowning the year before of his TD father Hugh in Cork Harbour, accepts himself that he was probably first elected on the back of a sympathy vote.

But as the 52-year-old confirmed that he is stepping back from politics at the next general election, he made a particular point of thanking the people of his constituency who put their faith in him at the five general elections since, saying: “Since then I hope I have earned my place in politics, in the Dáil, in the European Parliament, and around the cabinet table.” 

Following a political career that has seen him serve at local, national and European level, and hold several cabinet posts during which time he has grappled with the housing crisis, deployed the naval service to respond to the migrant humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, and later defend Ireland’s interests during the protracted Brexit process, he says he will leave the matter of his political legacy to others.

For me, the important thing is that people remember me as somebody who was honest, someone who worked incredibly hard for them, somebody who was in politics for the right reasons.

“I am not somebody who goes after headlines or cheap shots. I don’t crave publicity.

“I am somebody who wants society to change and move in the right direction, who wants Ireland to be a positive, progressive, ambitious country that is successful, that provides careers for young people as they grow up, that responds to social needs in terms of vulnerable people. 

“But I am human as well. I make mistakes. So what people think of me, I will leave to others.

“But not very many 52-year-olds can look back at a political career and say they have held virtually every office in the land except Taoiseach, as a councillor, a TD, an MEP, and a minister across six or seven different briefs.

“It has been an extraordinary privilege and it’s all been because enough people in Cork South Central put their faith in me for more than a quarter of a century. And I have served them as best I can.” 

His announcement brings to an end speculation about his political future which first emerged in 2022 after he bought an impressive two-storey Georgian property in Cobh, fuelling rumours that he may run for election in Cork East.

Speculation mounted again in April when Simon Harris took over as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach, and Mr Coveney, who was Enterprise Minister at the time, asked not to be considered for a place in the new Cabinet.

Pressure mounted further after the local and European elections when a number of Fine Gael figures, including unsuccessful MEP candidate, John Mullins, and city councillor, Shane O’Callaghan, announced their intention to seek the party’s nomination to run in south central.

Outgoing Fine Gael TD, former minister and former Tánaiste Simon Coveney, who has represented Cork South Central since the 1998 by-election triggered by the tragic drowning the year before of his TD father Hugh in Cork Harbour, accepts himself that he was probably first elected on the back of a sympathy vote. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

And so on Wednesday, Mr Coveney wrote to party members confirming he is stepping back from politics, posting the letter on social media, and doing back-to-back interviews on Cork’s local radio stations, RedFM and Cork’s 96FM.

On the Neil Prendeville Show on RedFM, the father of three paid tribute to his family, his wife Ruth, and their three daughters, Jessica, Beth, and Annalise, aged between 15 and 11, for supporting him throughout his political career.

“There are many politicians who have lost their families and their relationships because politics has come first,” he said.

“I have worked incredibly hard to make sure that that hasn’t happened to me — although I have a wife who is not fond of politics but who has shown extraordinary patience and understanding in terms of facilitating a career for me and I will be forever grateful to her for that.

"My children have grown up with one parent, in terms of presence in the home, for much of their lives. I have done everything I can using technology from Zoom calls to FaceTime to try and spend as much time talking to and being a father to them, because if you are a government minister you have enormous responsibilities to both the country and the communities that you represent.

His said his career in politics has been demanding, stressful, and frustrating but ultimately “incredibly rewarding”, and despite distrust of politicians today, protests outside politicians’ homes, and abuse on social media, he encouraged people to consider running for election.

He says while Ireland has come a long way, with the highest rate of housebuilding in 15 years, and the highest rate of social housing delivery since the 1970s, he can’t escape Ireland's record homeless figures which broke the 14,000 mark in May.

Real challenges remain, he said.

Of course there are some things that I would like to have seen happen faster — as housing minister, I was impatient to make things happen a lot faster.

“Some of the things I just couldn’t get done as fast as I wanted are policy today, things I was asking the system for eight years ago.

“The housing crisis has still not been solved but the government will continue to put huge resources into increasing output on social, affordable, cost rental and private housing for purchase. And we are starting to see significant improvements in that area."

But he insists that Ireland is moving in the right direction.

“Have we got it right all of the time? No we haven’t, but are we trying to get it right all of the time? Yes we are.” 

So what next for a man regarded as one of Cork’s Merchant Princes?

He insists he has no intention of retiring from work, that he is still very driven and full of energy.

He says he has thought about using his experience for the “greater good” but says a career in the private sector could be an option too.

But for now, his focus is on being a TD for Cork South Central, and seeing construction start on the city’s long-awaited event centre, something he’s insisted for almost eight years will happen.