Paschal Donohoe admits he thought about not running in last year's general election

The former finance minister, who is leaving Government to take up a role with the World Bank, said he and Tánaiste Simon Harris had 'always had an understanding and an appreciation that a moment may arise that I could leave'

Paschal Donohoe speaking at a press conference at Government Buildings after announcing he to leave his role in Government and take up a position with the World Bank. 

Former finance minister Paschal Donohoe has admitted he considered not running in last year's general election.

Mr Donohoe announced on Tuesday he would leave Government to take up a role with the World Bank from next week. He will step down as a TD for Dublin Central.

Mr Donohoe told RTÉ's David McCullagh he had told Tánaiste Simon Harris he would be departing Irish political life and that the two had "always had an understanding and an appreciation that a moment may arise that I could leave".

Asked if he had considered not running in the election last year, Mr Donohoe said he and Mr Harris had had "conversations" about his running and the "scale of departure" from Fine Gael had changed things.

"I'm only human. Everybody has a plan, but when the context around that plan completely changes, you reassess what you're going to do. It was my commitment to Simon [Harris] and my faith in him and my determination to make the case for a particular type of politics over a space of a very long 24 hours got me back to sticking with my plan."

Mr McCullagh put it to Mr Donohoe he was leaving within a year of that vote, to which the Fine Gael TD said he had done the first budget of this Government.

"Since then, I have done the first budget of the Government, been a part of some of the decisions that the Government has made that I believe will be critical to the future of our country, in terms of the national development plan, our housing plan, and then the work that I’ve done with Minister Jack Chambers."

Mr Donohoe also said he had never had any desire to lead the country.

"I’ve worked for four taoisigh. I’ve spent more time in the office of the Taoiseach than many have, without being Taoiseach. I’ve never left that room with a burning desire to sit behind that desk. That’s the honest answer.

"I have worked for Enda, Leo, Micheál and Simon, and I have seen at first hand what it involves being Taoiseach, including at some pivotal moments in our country’s fortune.

"I have seen how those four great leaders have handled those moments … and that’s not a path for me."