Brendan Howlin to stand down as Labour TD for Wexford after 40 years in politics – ‘It’s been the privilege of my life’

The Wexford man and former Leader of The Labour Party confirmed that he will not contest the next general election after some 40 years in national politics, 36 of which were spent as a TD.

Clearly a decision which had not been taken lightly, Deputy Howlin said: “It has been and remains the privilege of my life to have represented my beloved Wexford in nine consecutive Dáileanna.

“I am forever grateful for the support I have received for almost four decades from the Wexford people and the wonderful members of the Labour Party. I remember those friends and comrades who have passed on down the years, whose loyalty and fellowship I will always treasure.”

Coming from a socially conscious and politically active family, Howlin credits his involvement in the anti-nuclear movement as sowing the seeds of what would be a long and successful political career.

He contested his first general election in 1982, one in which he was not successful. It was to be one of the only times that Howlin would taste defeat in his political career.

In the face of this adversity, he dusted himself off and was nominated to serve in the Seanad as well as being elected to Wexford County Council in 1985.

With this momentum behind him, Howlin once again put his name on the ballot paper for the 1987 general election and this time secured his seat in Dáil Éireann – one which he was to hold over the course of the coming three and a half decades.

Stints in government would see him hold the roles of Minister for Health from January 1993 to November of 1994; Minister for the Environment from December 1994 until June 1997 and Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform from March 2011 until May of 2016.

Carving out a sterling reputation within his own party as a level head and a steady pair of hands, he served as both Deputy Leader and Leader of The Labour Party at different times.

In 2016 he took over the party reins from Joan Burton, before handing them over to Alan Kelly in April of 2020.

“I have been most fortunate to have held many public offices,” Deputy Howlin reflected. “I have been Leader and Deputy Leader of my party. I have served as a Cabinet Minister in three governments and witnessed the positive transformation of our country, both economically and culturally.

“I have had the opportunity to introduce into law many important and transformative pieces of legislation.”

In recent times, the veteran Wexford TD’s position has been the source of widespread speculation, amid reports that he was considering retirement and stepping away from politics after four decades.

Despite this, news of his imminent departure will still come as a shock to his legions of voters who’ve stayed loyal to him throughout. The Wexford man’s passion for the political world has never waned, but he feels that the time is now right to bring the curtain down on his Dáil career.

“I’m aware that the business of government and public representation is never done,” he said. “We still have many major challenges to overcome as a people – providing houses for all, eliminating poverty and creating true equality.

“After the next general election, that task will fall to others. For my part, I will continue to work to the best of my ability for all Wexford people. I will also do all that I can to ensure that our great county continues to be served by a Labour TD in the decades to come.”

The Labour Party will undoubtedly feel the loss of a genuine party stalwart as Howlin hangs up his boots, but the general feeling is that the party has a ready-made successor in the form of Cllr George Lawlor who has been at Deputy Howlin’s side for years, serving as his constituency secretary.

Cllr Lawlor’s Dáil ambitions have been no secret and in 2019 he contested a by-election for the Dáil seat vacated by Mick Wallace, who left for Europe. He polled quite well, finishing just behind then Fine Gael candidate Verona Murphy and the eventual by-election winner Malcolm Byrne.

Succession planning aside, for now it’s a day of notable change on the Wexford and national political landscapes and there are sure to be plenty of tributes paid in the coming days as the county and country begins the process of bidding farewell to one of its most experienced representatives.