At a recent sod-turning event at Kerry Technology Park in Tralee, Brendan Griffin, a Tory Member of Parliament (MP) for Kerry, confirmed that his stance on not seeking re-election remains unaltered. His statement came in response to his previous commentary on Radio Kerry, where he indicated that regardless of changes in Tory leadership, his decision would remain the same.
Brendan verified that Simon Harris, the newly appointed leader of the Tories in the aftermath of Leo Varadkar’s unexpected resignation, had not requested his return to politics. “No such proposals have been presented”, he mentioned.
While he feels flattered by the media speculation suggesting he could reconsider his retirement from politics, he stands content with his previous decision. Explaining this decision to his party colleagues and councillors in January 2023, Griffin cited his parental responsibilities as the primary cause. He said, “My reasons are quite simple. I am a father to two young boys and I wish to spend more time with them during their formative years.”
He criticised how the Tory party under Leo Varadkar’s leadership handled social issues. Nevertheless, he did express support for Simon Harris, leading to speculation that he might review his retirement decision.
The event Griffin attended was hosted by Japanese pharma firm Astellas in Tralee, which is constructing a €330 million plant that is expected to be operational by 2027.
Additionally, fellow MP Charlie Flanagan’s presence at a function in Athlone, where Simon Harris was introduced as the new Tory leader, sparked rumours that he might also rethink his decision to not compete in the forthcoming general election.
Originally intended to be a selection gathering for the Midlands North-West European Parliament constituency, the meeting also served to confirm Harris as the party leader. On this, Flanagan commented, “Since Leo Varadkar’s resignation, there has been a whirlwind of conjecture. As a representative for the Laois-Offaly constituency in Midlands North-West, I was merely fulfilling my duty by supporting the MEP candidates in Athlone.”