Fianna Fáil senator Shane Cassells has said his decision to retire from politics came because he felt he had nothing more to contribute after spending 25 years in public life.
The 46-year-old Meath politician said he has been involved in politics as a councillor, Senator and TD since the age of 21. He will continue in the Seanad until the next general election, which must take place by March 2025, but will not contest it.
“I have done 16 years as a councillor and nine years in the Oireachtas as a TD and Senator,” he said. “I’m out of public life now. I’ve really enjoyed it. It has been a privilege. But I’m done with public life.”
Mr Cassells was expected to seek a nomination to stand the Meath West constituency in the general election to try to regain the seat he won in 2016 but lost in 2020. The other prominent candidate seeking a nomination for this week’s convention was Cllr Aisling Dempsey, the daughter of former TD and minister Noel Dempsey.
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Mr Cassells said he had arrived at the decision some time ago and it was not prompted by any pressure or extenuating circumstances.
In a statement, party leader and Tánaiste Micheál Martin said Mr Cassells had done “a lot for his county and town of Navan”.
“I spoke to Shane and I have a lot of respect and admiration for Shane’s work over the years, but I fully understand his reasons for wanting to move on to a new chapter in his life.”
The convention for Meath West will be held on Thursday. The party has not said if it will be pursuing a one-candidate, or two-candidate strategy in the three-seat constituency. The current TDs are Johnny Brady (Sinn Féin); Peadar Tóibín (Aontú) and Damien English (Fine Gael).
The constituency remained a three-seater after the latest boundary changes.. Some parts of Westmeath which were formerly in the constituency have now moved back to Longford-Westmeath.
Ms Dempsey, who is based in Trim, was comfortably reelected to Meath County Council in the June elections.
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