The controversial Dublin TD, Mr Liam Lawlor, has announced he will not stand as a candidate in the general election.
Mr Lawlor said in a statement yesterday that too much of his time is now being taken up with the Flood tribunal.
"Due to the time required in meeting my ongoing obligations to assist the tribunal of inquiry to the fullest possible extent, I feel I would not be able to devote sufficient time to properly represent my constituents in Dáil Éireann," said Mr Lawlor, who was first elected a TD 25 years ago, in June 1977.
The former Fianna Fáil TD said he left public life in the knowledge that the original rural Dublin West constituency, where he was first elected, had seen tremendous progress and is now home to over 100,000 families "where an excellent range of facilities and amenities have been provided" .
"I, along with other public representatives, endeavoured to play my part in seeing the new towns of Clondalkin/Lucan and Blanchardstown grow and prosper."
Mr Lawlor, who has been jailed on three occasions for contempt of court over his failure to co-operate with the tribunal, ignored an unprecedented call in February by Dáil Éireann to resign.
During a debate on the motion calling for his resignation he said he did not intentionally fail to co-operate with the tribunal. He had been released from Mountjoy Prison to attend the debate.
He apologised for what had happened "but when you think you are slightly more than half-right, you must stand up for what you believe in".
He expressed his appreciation in yesterday's statement to his wife Hazel and family, staff, friends and constituents for their support since he contested his first election 28 years ago. "It has been my honour to represent my constituents at local and national level for over 20 years. I would like to record my appreciation to the many people who communicated their continued support and good wishes to me during the last 12 months."
In reaching the decision, he said, he knew he was disappointing many friends and constituents who had strongly encouraged him to contest the election.
A recent opinion poll in the constituency found that Mr Lawlor had only 3 per cent of the vote. Due to constituency revision he had indicated that he would have moved to that new constituency.