Noel Dempsey Joins FF Exodus

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has become the latest high profile politician to announce he will not be contesting the upcoming general election.

He joins a long list of retirees that includes Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, and former Minister Rory O'Hanlon.

The affable 58-year-old has been a TD in Meath East since 1987.

He was one of three Fianna Fail members who led a heave against former Taoiseach Charles Haughey.

He has served at cabinet level since 1997, holding the portfolios of Environment, Education, Communications, and Transport.

He's best known for the introduction of a tax on plastic bags, which is still going strong 10 years ago with enormous environmental benefits.

But he'll also be remembered as the Minister who introduced controversial E-voting machines before the 2002 General Election.

The machines were only used once in a handful of constituencies, but were rejected by the public, and have since cost over €50 million in storage.

Mr Dempsey will earn a windfall of around €316,000 next year following his retirement and will have an annual pension of around €120,000 from then on.

That's far more money than he would have earned if he had contested the election, regained his seat, and worked as an opposition TD for the next five years.

He insists neither the money nor opinion polls showing him with a tough battle on his hands to regain his seat in Meath, were factors in his decision.

Dermot Ahern, the Justice Minister who is also retiring next year, will earn even more money in his retirement.

Some measures were taken in the recent Budget to reduce the large pensions enjoyed by former Ministers following a public outcry.

Several other leading politicians are expected not to contest next year's election, including former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Health Minister Mary Harney.

Many veteran Fianna Fail politicians have already indicated they will not run - others to confirm the news this week included Sean Ardagh, MJ Nolan and the relatively young Beverly Flynn, daughter of former Minister and EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn.

There now at least 20 TDs from across the political spectrum who have confirmed they will not be seeking re-election.

Several more are expected to follow.

It means there will be dozens of new faces around Leinster House after the next election, and some household names will disappear from Irish politics.