By Sean Moriarty

Patrick O’Connor-Scarteen has said that he would consider running for Dáil Eireann in the next General Election.

NOT RUNNING: Kerry TD Brendan Griffin has announced that he will not contest the next General Election.

CONSIDERATION: Kenmare Municipal District Mayor Patrick O'Connor-Scarteen says he will consider a General Election campaign.

The Killarney resident, who is the current Mayor of the Kenmare Municipal District, paid tribute to his fellow Fine Gael member Brendan Griffin TD who announced today (Tuesday) that he is not going to contest the next election.

Griffin said that family reasons were the main factors in his decision to withdraw from national politics. However, it is also understood that Mr Griffin was left disappointed that he did not secure a ministerial position in the Government reshuffle just before Christmas.

Griffin was first elected to Dáil Eireann in 2011 after a stint with Kerry County Council.

He was re-elected in the 2016 and 2020 elections. In that time, he served as Junior Minister for Sport and Tourism and more recent was the Fine Gael party’s deputy chief whip.

Mayor O’Connor-Scarteen paid tribute to his Fine Gael colleague.

"I wish my friend and colleague Brendan Griffin and his family all the best for the future. We were both elected to Kerry County Council in 2009 and have worked closely as part of the Fine Gael team in Kerry,” he told the Killarney Advertiser.

"Brendan has always been a true public servant, hardworking, honest and very capable. His strong vote in three General Elections regardless of national political swings is testament to the high esteem he is held by the people of Kerry. He combines a great skill in delivering for Kerry people on grass roots issues and making his voice heard on national and legislative issues.”

Griffin’s departure will leave Fine Gael vulnerable in the next election which is about two years away if the current Government serves its full term.

O’Connor-Scarteen says it’s too early to say for certain if he will run, but will give it consideration.

"The Fine Gael team in Kerry will be strategising on how best to progress in next year's Local Elections and the General Election whenever that happens," he added.

“I will consider it in due course.”