Former Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy resigns as TD

Murphy served as Housing Minister from 2017 to 2020.

Eoghan Murphy has resigned his seat as Teachta Dála for Dublin Bay South. The former Fine Gael TD, who served in the Dáil since 2011 as a TD, Minister of State and as a Cabinet Minister, wrote to the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil on Tuesday morning to confirm his resignation. Murphy previously served as Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government from 2017 to 2020 and Minister of State at the Department of Finance from 2016 to 2017. His time as Minister for Housing proved controversial, on account of the high levels of homelessness in Ireland and his positive stance on co-living spaces. Prior to entering Leinster House, he was elected a Dublin city councillor in 2009 for the Pembroke-Rathmines constituency. In a statement, the former TD stated it was “a personal decision” to resign his seat and that he would be returning to a career in international affairs.

Today I have resigned my position as Teachta Dála for @FineGael. I want to thank everyone who has supported me over the past twelve years in my positions as Councillor, TD and Minister.

Full statement here - https://t.co/kJMDL47qNT — Eoghan Murphy TD (@MurphyEoghan) April 27, 2021

Murphy said: “It has been a huge privilege to serve the Dublin Bay South constituency, first as a councillor and then as a TD.” “Leaving frontline politics is not something that I am doing without having considered the matter fully. In my late 20s, I worked in the UN system before I returned to Ireland to get involved alongside many other people looking to play their part in the national recovery at the time. And now, after 12 years of service and having reflected upon things, I have made the decision to return to international affairs. “I have resigned my seat today, not to leave politics entirely, but to pursue a career in the area of international co-operation, human rights and democracy." He added: “I want to thank all who I have worked alongside in Fine Gael, in the Oireachtas, in various Government departments, in Dublin City Council and numerous other agencies and bodies who serve the Irish people so well. “It has been an honour and I wish you all every success in the future. “I finally want to thank all in my constituency who put their faith in me so many years ago and have stood by me ever since. I will be eternally grateful.”