Fine Gael's Josepha Madigan resigns as junior minister

Muireann Duffy

Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Josepha Madigan has confirmed she is to resign from her ministerial position and will not contest the next general election.

In a statement on Friday afternoon, the Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown said she informed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of her decision not to run in the next election last summer, adding: "We have had many conversations since but I have not changed my mind."

She said it has been an "enormous honour" to represent her constituents as a councillor, TD and minister, adding: "Politics is not an easy profession but that does not mean it is not a rewarding one."

Ms Madigan has served as a TD for Dublin Rathdown since 2016, being appointed as a junior minister at the Department of Education in 2020, having previously been minister of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht from 2017 to 2020.

Prior to her time in the Dáil, Ms Madigan was a councillor with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

In her statement, Ms Madigan also said she will be supporting Simon Harris to become the next Fine Gael leader and taoiseach, following Mr Varadkar's shock resignation earlier this week.

"I have been fortunate to have worked with Enda Kenny and Leo Varadkar, two outstanding leaders of Fine Gael and taoisigh.

"I have no doubt that Simon Harris will also be a huge success as Fine Gael leader and taoiseach. I have already told him that he has my full support but it will be in a different role," she wrote.

Ending her statement, Ms Madigan thanked her team, department officials and her family, "whose support has been vital in my work as a TD and Minister".