Fianna Fáil senator will not stand in next election and considers retiring from politics

Fianna Fáil Senator Shane Cassells will not stand in the next general election and intends to retire from politics.

Several Fianna Fáil councillors in Meath have confirmed that Mr Cassells has phoned them in recent hours to confirm his decision to stand down.

Mr Cassells had been expected to seek a return to the Dáil at the next general election, but his confirmation to local party members has quashed that prospect.

A letter from the senator to local party members indicated he had been thinking about his future in recent months.

“While I was very honoured to be nominated by so many members of Meath West to contest the election, I have taken the decision not to seek the nomination,” Mr Cassells wrote.

After 25 years of elected service for Fianna Fáil, I am retiring from elected politics.

“It has been the honour of my life to serve this party as a councillor for 16 years and as a member of the Oireachtas for nine years.”

The Labour senator was first elected as an MP in 2016. However, he lost his seat at the 2020 general election, before being elected to the Seanad.

Mr Cassells was first elected as a Navan councillor in 1999, before being elected to Meath County Council between 2004 and 2016.

He first stood for election to the Dáil in 2005, in a by-election in the Meath constituency. He was also unsuccessful when he stood for a second time in 2011 in the Meath West constituency.

Talk to the Irish ExaminerMr Cassells said after more than 25 years in politics he had “run out of gas”.

“I just decided to put an end to this situation,” Mr Cassells said.

“Politics has changed a lot since I started at 21. It’s exhausting and it takes a certain amount of energy.” He cited factors such as higher levels of abuse as part of the changing nature of politics, as well as higher expectations from the general public of their politicians.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin paid tribute to Mr Cassells, saying he had made an “outstanding contribution” to politics over the past 25 years.

“Shane is an extremely hard-working and committed Meath man and has contributed a great deal to his county and his town of Navan,” Mr Martin said.

“I have spoken to Shane and I have a lot of respect and admiration for Shane’s work over the years, but I completely understand his reasons for wanting to move on to a new chapter in his life.

“Shane is also a very committed sportsman. We have had many conversations over the years about the fortunes of Cork and Meath Football and that will no doubt continue. But I wish him every success in whatever he does next.”