Senator Fidelma Healy Eames has announced that she is retiring from politics.

In the recent General Election, Senator Healy Eames unsuccessfully contested an Independent seat in the Galway West constituency.

In a statement this evening, she said that she will not re-contest her Seanad seat and is nominating Jonathan Irwin from the Jack & Jill Foundation to take her seat.

She also said that it had been a privilege to contribute to the wellbeing of the people of Ireland.