Fianna Fáil TD Michael Collins has announced he will not contest the next general election in the West Limerick constituency.
Mr Collins, who was first elected to the Dáil in 1997, resigned from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in 2003 after it emerged that he was on a list of tax defaulters.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Abbeyfeale native said he would continue working as a full-time public representative in West Limerick until the next general election. "I would like to thank the public for their previous and continued support in securing my election to Dáil Éireann on two occasions and to Limerick County Council on four occasions," said Mr Collins.
Meanwhile, his nephew, Cllr Niall Collins, has announced he will be putting his name before the Fianna Fáil selection convention next month for one of the two party tickets in the West Limerick constituency.
The 33-year-old county councillor trained as an accountant with Ernst & Young and now works as deputy CEO of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board.