Social Democrats co-founders Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall not contesting election
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns described Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall as "trailblazers".
Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall, the former leaders of the Social Democrats, have announced that they will not contest the next general elections.
The TDs, who founded the party with now-Fianna Fáil TD Stephen Donnelly, have served across the Dáil in various different parties.
Ms Murphy, 70, served as a TD between 2005 and 2007 and since 2011. She served as a councillor for Kildare representing the Workers’ Party, Democratic Left and the Labour Party, as well as serving as an Independent councillor.
Ms Shortall, 70, has served as a TD for Dublin-North-West since 1992. She served as a Labour TD but resigned in 2012. She also served as a Junior Minister in the Department of Health.
In 2015, they established the Social Democrats with Mr Donelly. They stood down as co-leaders in March 2023, with Holly Cairns taking over as leader.
Ms Murphy said: “I love my job and have always had a deep passion for my work and tackling the many pressing social, environmental, economic and governmental issues we still face.
“It has been such a privilege to work in politics alongside colleagues who have shared my energy, commitment and vision for the future. It has also been my absolute honour to represent the people of Kildare North and I want to thank them for their continued support for so many years.
“While I am bowing out of representational politics, I will continue to work in whatever way I can to support Holly Cairns and the next generation in Kildare and elsewhere, in advocating for and delivering on a social democratic future.”
Ms Shortall, meanwhile, said she was “very proud to have had the opportunity to serve the public” over the last 32 years as a TD.
“Representing my constituents and actively contributing to public debate on national issues have been my priorities as a TD,” she said.
“I have a strong belief in the power of politics as a force for good. Politics has enormous potential to make people’s lives better and to create a fairer and more progressive country. I have worked in furtherance of those goals over the course of my career.
“While I have decided to step down from frontline politics, I hope to continue to work to build on progress already made in the development of the Social Democrats party. I truly believe the Party can make a major contribution to creating a better Ireland for all.”
Ms Cairns, meanwhile, described both Ms Shortall and Ms Murphy as “trailblazers” in Irish politics and said she would “not be in politics were it not for Catherine and Róisín’s decision to set up the Social Democrats”.
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