Tributes are being paid to Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey following his announcement that will resign as a public representative.
Deputy Carey, who has been on sick leave since March of last year, confirmed he will not be a candidate in the next General Election.
Stating that his decision was based on medical advice, Deputy Carey informed Clare Fine Gael party members that he had to put himself, his wife and family first and retire from a job that he loved.
Deputy Carey said: “In the past year, I suffered a life-altering medical situation that I will be dealing with for the rest of my time on earth. While I would dearly wish to continue, my decision to step away is based on medical advice.
“I have had the absolute privilege to serve for the past 25years as a public representative, eight as a County Councillor and 17 as a TD. I want to express my sincere thanks to my constituents who elected me to represent them on Clare County Council and in Dáil Éireann on six separate occasions.”
In his letter to party members, Deputy Carey said he wanted to express his gratitude to them for campaigning with him throughout his political career.
“It is hard to believe but 25years have passed since I was first elected to Clare County Council. It has been the greatest honour and privilege to be elected as a Fine Gael TD for County Clare at four successive General Elections.
“My electoral success would not have been possible without your unwavering support. I also want to sincerely thank the extraordinary people who have worked with me in my office over the years especially Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Paul Bugler and Ger O’Halloran and, more recently, John Stanton and Lorraine O’Meara.
“A big thank you to my election team headed by my Director of Elections, Martin Lynch, and to everybody who canvassed, leaflet dropped, helped in the office, and with postering.”
He also expressed his appreciation to Clare Fine Gael members, local councillors past and present and the general public for their patience and understanding throughout his illness. He paid special tribute to his sister Leonora and brother Donal, the extended Carey family and his wide circle of friends.
“The Fine Gael parliamentary party have been really supportive as have Oireachtas members from all political parties and none. I have been blown away by the messages, cards, texts, mass bouquets and get-well wishes.
“I want to take this opportunity to wish Taoiseach, Simon Harris all the best in the forthcoming General Election. His impact has already been spectacular, and I strongly expect the “Harris Hop” to be firmly enjoyed in County Clare and throughout the Country when the next General Election comes around.”
Meanwhile, Joe’s sister Leonora has confirmed she will seek a nomination at the Clare Fine Gael convention to run as a candidate in the next general election.
A native of Clarecastle, Joe Carey was first elected to Clare County Council in 1999 at the age of 23. He trebled his vote and topped the poll in the 2004 local elections with what was then the highest number of first preferences ever secured by a Clare local election candidate.
In 2007, he won a second seat for Fine Gael in the Clare constituency for the first time in 20 years when he was elected to Dáil Éireann at the age of 31. His father Donal, who served as Fine Gael TD for Clare from 1982 to 2002 and Minister of State from 1995 to 1997, was the only other candidate to win a second seat for the party in Clare.
Appointed as Deputy Spokesperson on Justice with special responsibility for Juvenile Justice, he worked with others to see off the heave on Enda Kenny’s leadership of Fine Gael.
He was re-elected to the Dáil in 2011 for a second term and appointed Assistant Government Chief Whip, having served as Fine Gael Deputy Whip in the previous Dáil. He served as a member of the Committee on Procedures and Privileges and was appointed Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Administration.
Re-elected for his third Dáil term in 2016, he was appointed to the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly and served as Chairman of the Committee on Sovereign Matters. He served as a member of the Oireachtas Commission and was subsequently elected chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development.
In February 2020, he was the only sitting Clare TD to be re-elected to the Dáil thereby securing a fourth successive term. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, he established the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group and became its Chairperson.
He was appointed temporary Chair of Dáil Éireann by the Ceann Comhairle and became a member of the Oireachtas Commission for a second term. He was later selected as Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications.
Tributes
Clare Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway has paid tribute to his friend and political colleague Joe Carey who has announced he will not be seeking re-election to Dáil Éireann due to ill health.
“It has been a privilege to work with Joe for the last twenty years and particularly the last thirteen years as a member of the Oireachtas. We have worked together as members of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party to ensure Government delivered for County Clare and its people.
“Joe has been a great advocate for the people of County Clare. In recent times, Joe has undergone significant medical challenges and I have no doubt it has been a very difficult time for him. I would like to wish Joe, Grace and their family the very best for the future,” Senator Conway concluded.
Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe said: “I was saddened to hear that Joe Carey will not be contesting the next general election owing to health problems.
Joe is one of life’s gentlemen and was a good colleague when we both served together on Clare County Council and, more recently, as TD for the Clare Constituency.
I wish to sincerely thank Joe for his 27 years of unwavering commitment to public office and to representing our county. Whilst the job of TD is an important one and is very demanding, at the end of the day it’s just a job and one’s health and family must come first. I wish Joe the very, very best on all fronts but, in particular, on the health front!