Arthur Morgan TD not to seek re-election

Arthur Morgan TD

LOUTH Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan has publicly announced his intention not to seek re-election.

Arthur made it clear that he will continue to be an active member of the party and will work to ensure that a Sinn Féin TD is returned for the Louth constituency at the next general election.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Arthur said:

I have served two terms now as a Sinn Féin TD for Louth. It has been a great honour to represent the people of this county and it has been a similarly great honour to represent the Sinn Féin party in Louth and Leinster House.
My decision not to seek re-election for a third time is something which would not have been a great secret within the party in Louth or at a national level.
When I took the decision to run for a Dáil seat in Louth I had to step out of the role I had played up to that point in a family business which goes back a very long way in County Louth. I would really like to go back into business.

I am very contented with my decision and the party organisation, both nationally and here in Louth, have fully accepted it. I want to thank the Sinn Féin organisation in Louth – the membership, election workers and our excellent team of councillors – for the support they have given me over the years.

A special thanks goes to the electorate of County Louth for giving me the honour of representing them.
I will remain active within the party and intend to use the experience I gained as a TD for more than eight years to the benefit of Sinn Féin and the people of County Louth, and I will be active and prominent in the campaign to ensure that a Sinn Féin TD is returned for this constituency at the next general election.
On a personal note, I would like to pay special tribute to my wife Marion without whose support and patience I would not be able to carry the important job as a public representative.

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ARTHUR told James Rogers of the Dundalk Democrat he believes Sinn Féin has the support and personnel to retain the seat in the constituency.

In relation to my own support it has steadily increased over the years and I have to thank people for that. There is a good solid base there to continue the good stuff that Sinn Féin are all about.
There are still four places up for grabs at the next election and with Seamus Kirk automatically returned in the fifth seat that's a very big vote puller off the field.

I think Sinn Féin is a serious national player now. When I was first elected in 1999 we had one seat on the county council; now we have six. There's a huge solid base building there that makes it a lot easier for me to depart the scene.

We have some great politicians and the hallmark of them is that they're very young.

Arthur said despite his decision not to seek re-election, he would forever be loyal to the party and would lend his expertise where he could.

I'll be a member of Sinn Féin all my life and I'll always aspire to the ideals of the party but I'll be off the big stage.