Statement by Deputy Leo Varadkar

Speaking at the meeting of the Fine Gael Dublin West Constituency Organisation this evening, former Taoiseach Deputy Leo Varadkar confirmed that he would not seek a nomination to contest the next General Election. The Convention to select a candidate or candidates to run for Fine Gael in Dublin West is scheduled for mid-September.

“I have decided that I will not be seeking a nomination to contest the next General Election. I am doing so now as I want to give potential nominees sufficient time to prepare for the Selection Convention in September. I was also very keen to make this announcement in person and to thank all of you who have supported me and canvassed for me since I first ran for election back in 1999.

“I have been an elected representative for more than 20 years and have been elected on five occasions, first to represent the Castleknock/Blanchardstown area on Fingal County Council and subsequently to represent Dublin West in Dáil Éireann in four consecutive elections. It has been the privilege of my life and I am so grateful to have had the chance to serve my community and my country as a councillor and a TD.

“I have decided that the time has come for me to explore new options and opportunities. I have never seen myself as a career politician and I am keen to see how I can make my contribution to society in other ways. I shall, of course, complete my term in Dáil and will continue to be a full time TD until it is dissolved. I am making this decision at a time when the Fine Gael party is in good shape. 

“We have a new leader, a fresh ministerial team, professional and capable staff in Headquarters and the Oireachtas. The party is well-funded, well organised and has had a successful Local and European Elections. We are also in good shape here is Dublin West.  When I took over leadership of the organisation in Dublin West back in 2006 we had no TD and only one Senator and one councillor. We now have a TD, a Senator and five councillors representing us. We secured 24% of the vote in the last General Election and in the recent Local Elections, we secured 20% of the vote which was more than any other party. I am confident, therefore, that we can hold our seat in the next General Election and help Fine Gael to secure an historic fourth term in Government. 

“I believe every retiring TD has a responsibility to do all they can to ensure their seat is held by the party and with this mind, Senator Emer Currie and I are coming together to provide an enhanced constituency service and a new constituency office in Main Street Blanchardstown which will open in the next few weeks.

“During my twenty-one years as an elected representative, the population of Dublin West has almost doubled. I have worked hard to ensure that the Government has matched that growth in housing and population with major public investment. We had a huge expansion in employment and industrial development in the Blanchardstown area and are close to full employment. We have a vastly improved and extended Connolly Hospital with more developments underway, a state-of-the-art Urgent Care Centre for children, the new St Francis hospice and several new primary centres. We have a campus of the Technological University of Dublin in Blanchardstown and dozens of new schools and school extensions. We’ve invested tens of millions in new parks like St Catherine’s Park, the Royal Canal Greenway, Sports Campus Ireland as well as local sporting facilities and community centres. My major significant regret at a constituency level is the slow progress of DART WEST. However, with the electric carriages on order and planning permission for the project expected within weeks, I believe we are past the point of no return when it comes to delivering this vital public transport project for the people of Dublin 15 and Dublin 7.’

“Of course, many challenges remain ranging from deficient services for children with special needs to the need for more gardaí. There will always be challenges and I will continue to work on them until such time as I can hand over to my successor.

“Finally, I want to offer my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the tens of thousands of people in Dublin West who trusted me with their vote and gave me the opportunity to serve.”