In a 1998 by-election, the 52-year-old Cork South Central TD was initially elected to the Dáil.

Prior to his current role as minister for enterprise, he held the ministries of agriculture, international affairs, and commerce.

Following Simon Harris's appointment as Taoiseach earlier this year, Mr. Coveney declared he would not be staying in the Cabinet to give the new Fine Gael leader the freedom to nominate ministers.

This was interpreted as an explicit indication that his tenure in the Dáil was coming to an end.

He said that it was time to leave politics behind and explore other opportunities.

For 26 years, Mr. Coveney remarked, he has had the wonderful distinction of serving his constituency.

He also stated that Mr. Harris had given Fine Gael a new life and that the party had a bright future.