Simon Coveney choosing to step down from his political role may not come as a shock, yet it leaves Fine Gael missing a highly esteemed political figure. Coveney, a well-known figure, earned widespread recognition for his work as the foreign affairs minister amidst the Brexit conflict. Even though it didn’t result in the expected electoral gain in 2020, he was highly appreciated.
Coveney was not just a crucial national figure, but also held significant influence within his party. Despite Leo Varadkar virtually securing the party leadership back in 2017, Coveney refrained from dropping from the race. He boldly insisted that the party members should have a say, which won him praise and support. Ultimately, he outperformed Varadkar with an impressive victory among the party’s grassroots members. Although Varadkar’s upper hand was decisive due to the party’s electoral college system, Coveney’s support also had substantial weight.
At the age of 52, having spent half of his 25-year political career in the cabinet, Coveney’s retirement signifies the end of a noteworthy career that, although it didn’t result in occupying the highest office, had a significant impact on the welfare of both the party and the country.
His most meaningful tenure was as tánaiste and foreign affairs minister as the Fine Gael-Independent minority government grappled with the after-effects of Brexit during escalating tensions. Ireland’s successful avoidance of a rigid border and the preservation of its complete and unrestricted role in the European single market can be greatly attributed to Coveney and his team of diplomats. Despite being known for his occasional lengthy speeches among journalists and officials, he was consistently in full control of at times complex and dynamic assignments.
During his time as the party’s deputy leader, he was perceived as Varadkar’s likely successor. However, with the establishment of the Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil-Green coalition in 2020, his role in government decision-making began to wane as power inevitably shifted away from the dominant trio of Coveney, Varadkar, and Paschal Donohoe towards the three coalition party leaders.
Simon had been a prominent figure in the Department of Foreign Affairs before transitioning to the Department of Enterprise in 2022. Although his involvement in discussions regarding Varadkar’s succession diminished, many were confounded by his lack of engagement in the leadership contest, particularly in light of Varadkar’s unexpected resignation earlier in the year. His act of withdrawing from his cabinet position was a glaring indication of his political career drawing to a close.
Simon’s political journey began in 1998 following a tragic accident which claimed the life of his father, Hugh. Subsequent to the incident, he won the by-election in Cork South Central. Raised amongst a family of high achievers, including his brother Patrick who was once at the helm of Greencore, and Rory, a former executive at RTÉ, Simon chose to ditch his farm management and agricultural advisory career for politics.
Despite the purge of Fine Gael TDs in 2002, Simon’s political career thrived. He joined the European Parliament in 2004, securing a Fine Gael seat for the southern constituency. Yet, by 2007, he found his way back to the Dáil and secured a front-bench position in the party. Upon Fine Gael’s return to power in 2011, subsequent to the financial crisis, Simon was appointed as the Minister for Agriculture by Enda Kenny, and later expanded his portfolio to include Defence in 2014.
In 2016, despite reduced influence, Fine Gael regained governance and Simon assumed responsibility for housing, coinciding with the emergence of Ireland’s housing crisis. He launched the ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ initiative as an attempt to tackle homelessness and stimulate house construction. However, advances were unimpressive in the face of pressing demographic demands.
By the following year, Simon had relocated once again. When Kenny resigned, Varadkar and Coveney vied for leadership. Although Varadkar was victorious, Simon’s comportment and his triumph among the party’s base enhanced his standing. He was awarded the position of foreign affairs minister and tánaiste, a role that seemingly brought him purpose and allowed him to impart his greatest impact.