With the deputy from Meath West making this choice, there are now 17 Fine Gael TDs elected in 2020 who have decided not to run in the forthcoming election.

In 2020, 35 members of Fine Gael were elected. At the age of 24, Mr.English initially gained a seat in the Dáil in 2002.

Respected both in his party and in his constituency, the 46-year-old was seen to be in a strong position to hold onto his seat.

But Mr. English informed the Meath party members that it's time to hand the reins over to a fresh group of gifted politicians.

Although he relished his lengthy political career, he stated that it was time to move on.

Prior to this, Mr. English held the position of minister of state in the housing and enterprise departments.

He resigned as a junior minister in January 2023 after it was discovered by The Ditch website that, in 2008, he had neglected to mention that he already owned a house when submitting a planning application.

As a result, he was able to qualify as an applicant with a "housing need" and obtain planning approval for a new home in County Meath.

Deputy English acknowledged that he "failed to inform Meath County Council about ownership of a house in Castlemartin" in his resignation letter, saying that "this was wrong, not up to the standard required and I apologise for doing so".

In his most recent capacity as director of elections, he played a significant part in planning Fine Gael's local election campaign.

The party decided to field Councillor Linda Nelson Murray in the Meath West election.

"He leaves behind a rich legacy of service to the people of Meath West, which I hope to build on," she said in her eulogy to Mr. English.