While it is has been speculated on for some time, Fine Gael T.D. for Cork North West Michael Creed confirmed last Monday evening that he will not be a candidate at the next General Election.
Michael Creed was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1989, taking the seat held by his father Donal since 1965. He held the seat until when he lost it to party colleague Gerry Murphy.
On regaining the seat in 2007, Deputy Creed held a number of front bench positions and the high point of his political career came following his re-election at the 2016 General Election when he was appointed by the then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, a position he held until the 2020 General Election.
In a statement, Deputy Creed said, “On Monday night I informed the Fine Gael Cork North West Constituency Executive that I have decided not to contest the next general election.
“I will always be grateful to the people of Cork North West for giving me the privilege of representing them in Dáil Éireann. It is my firm intention to continue to work on their behalf until the end of the current Dáil term.
“My commitment to the Fine Gael party and its leadership is unchanged. I informed the Taoiseach of my decision some days ago. I wish the Fine Gael party and all my Oireachtas colleagues the very best. Politics by its nature requires renewal and it’s time for me to move on.”
Paying tribute to Deputy Creed, An Taoiseach and Leader of Fine Gael, Leo Varadkar TD said: “Michael has been an exceptional representative for Cork North West who has worked tirelessly for his constituents.
“In recent years he can point to the opening of the Macroom/Bally-vourney bypass as a major achievement. He secured State investment in local schools and other essential facilities and worked hard to bring jobs to the constituency.
“Michael was a com-mitted Minister for Agriculture who championed Irish farming and fishing and sought to protect and grow these sectors in the face of various challenges. Above all, Michael is a true gentleman, who will be missed from the Parliamentary Party. I wish him well in the future.”
The Cork North West Deputy becomes the fourth Fine Gael T.D. to announce they are not standing at the next General Election following John Paul Phelan in Carlow-Kilkenny, Brendan Griffin in Kerry and Joe McHugh in Donegal.
The race will now get underway for the Fine Gael nomination to contest the next General Election with Councillor John Paul O’Shea, who polled 7,065 at the 2020 Election, in pole position to get the nod.