Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall to resign at next election

Former Social Democrat co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall have announced they will stand down at the next general election.

The former co-leaders made the announcement on Tuesday, saying it was time for a new generation to take over, just weeks after Eamon Ryan resigned as Green Party leader.

Social Democrat leader Holly Cairns paid tribute to Ms Murphy and Ms Shortall after they announced they would not be standing in the upcoming general election.

Ms Murphy said: “I love my job and have always been incredibly passionate about it and about solving the many pressing social, environmental, economic and governance issues that we continue to face.

“It has been a great privilege to work in politics with colleagues who share my energy, commitment and vision for the future. It has also been an absolute honour to represent the people of Kildare North and I want to thank them for their continued support over so many years.

“While I am stepping back from representative politics, I will continue to seek to support Holly Cairns and the next generation in Kildare and elsewhere as they strive for and deliver a social democratic future.”

Ms Shortall added: “I have been the MP for Dublin North West for almost 32 years and I am very proud to have had the opportunity to serve the community in this role.

“As an MP, my priority is to represent my voters and actively participate in the public debate on national issues.

“I believe deeply in the power of politics as a force for good. Politics has enormous potential to improve people’s lives and create a more just and progressive country. I have worked to achieve these goals throughout my career.”

Describing Ms Murphy and Ms Shortall as “pioneers of Irish politics”, Ms Cairns said they “have achieved an incredible amount in their careers, which have spanned decades of committed political work and dedicated public service”.

“I can say that I would not be involved in politics if it were not for Catherine and Róisín’s decision to found the Social Democrats.

“Their commitment to public service, belief in the possibility of creating a more just society and dedication to strict social democratic principles were and are an inspiration to me and many others,” she said.