Statement from Dan Neville TD:

“It is with sadness that I have decided not to contest the General Election selection convention for the County Limerick constituency in September.

“After 30 years in public life, 26 of which I served as a member of the Oireachtas, (8 in Seanad Éireann and 18 in Dail Éireann), I feel it is the right time to pass on the baton of representing the constituency to a younger person.

“I would like to sincerely thank An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and former leaders during my time, my party colleagues and the Fine Gael members in West Limerick for giving me the opportunity to represent the party at a national level. I particularly want to extend my thanks to the people of County Limerick for selecting me to represent them. I am greatly honoured and privileged for the opportunity to do so.

“Throughout my public life, I have endeavoured to represent the people of my constituency in a dutiful way and to respond to the needs of communities and individuals to the best of my ability.

“I am thankful to Fine Gael, for facilitating my work in Mental Health awareness and suicide prevention.

“I look forward to enjoying representing the electorate of County Limerick until the General Election in 2016.”