FG’s Carey to leave politics ‘on medical advice’ after 25-year career
He is party’s 16th TD to stand down
Fine Gael TD for Clare, Joe Carey has announced he is resigning as a public representative following medical advice.
He is the 16th sitting Fine Gael TD to announce they will not be contesting the next general election.
Mr Carey’s sister Leonora is expected to seek the party’s nomination to run for the Clare Dáil seat at the next general election, as is Clare-based senator Martin Conway.
The Clare TD said he would retire from politics after receiving medical advice. He has been on sick leave since March last year and said he was now putting his wife and family first and will leave a job that he loved.
“In the past year, I suffered a life-altering medical situation that I will be dealing with for the rest of my time on earth. While I would dearly wish to continue, my decision to step away is based on medical advice,” Mr Carey said.
Taoiseach and Fine Gael party leader Simon Harris paid tribute to the Clare TD, and described him as a “good friend” and “popular colleague”.
“He served the people of Clare with distinction. He served the Fine Gael party with distinction and I think it’s fair to say was a popular colleague across the political divide,” Mr Harris said.
“I note with interest that there’s already significant interest in wishing to succeed Joe on the Fine Gael ticket, and we’ll hold our convention in Clare very shortly.”
Asked if he had considered a date for when a by-election will be held or if a general election will come first, the Taoiseach said he hadn’t discussed by-elections with the party leaders but said they would “shortly”.
“Government hasn’t yet given consideration to the timing of by-elections. The law is obviously clear in relation to that, and of course we’ll abide by that, but we haven’t, as party leaders, had an opportunity to discuss that yet,” he said.
Mr Carey, who has been a public representative for 25 years, expressed his gratitude to his constituents who had elected him to represent them both at council level and in the Dáil.
He was first elected to Clare County Council in 1999 when he was 23. In the 2004 local elections, he topped the polls when at the time he secured the highest ever number of first-preference votes by a local election candidate in the county.
He went on to be elected to Dáil Éireann in 2007 at the age of 31.
“It is hard to believe but 25 years have passed since I was first elected to Clare County Council. It has been the greatest honour and privilege to be elected as a Fine Gael TD for Co Clare at four successive general elections,” Mr Carey said.
“My electoral success would not have been possible without your unwavering support.
“I also want to sincerely thank the extraordinary people who have worked with me in my office over the years, especially Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Paul Bugler and Ger O’Halloran and, more recently, John Stanton and Lorraine O’Meara.
“A big thank-you to my election team, headed by my director of elections, Martin Lynch, and to everybody who canvassed, leaflet-dropped, helped in the office and with postering.”
Mr Carey (49) thanked the Fine Gael parliamentary party for its support throughout his illness, and also spoke about the support he had received from other Oireachtas members. He also thanked Mr Harris and wished him the best in the upcoming election.
“The Fine Gael parliamentary party have been really supportive as have Oireachtas members from all political parties and none,” he said.
“I have been blown away by the messages, cards, texts, mass bouquets and get-well wishes.
“I want to take this opportunity to wish Taoiseach Simon Harris all the best in the forthcoming general election. His impact has already been spectacular, and I strongly expect the ‘Harris Hop’ to be firmly enjoyed in Co Clare and throughout the country when the next general election comes around.”