Josepha Madigan steps down as Minister of State in second shock resignation

Minister of State for Special Education and Fine Gael TD Josepha Madigan has announced her resignation from her ministerial post, and has stated she will not stand in the next general election.

This is the second unexpected resignation in one week from a Fine Gael government minister, following Leo Varadkar's shock announcement that he would be resigning as Taoiseach on Wednesday, March 20.

Ms Madigan has been a Fine Gael representative for almost ten years, first serving as a local councillor for the Stillorgan ward on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in 2014, before her election to the Dáil as a TD for Dublin Rathdown.

In her statement posted on social media this Friday afternoon, March 22, she said she had informed the Taoiseach of her decision not to contest the forthcoming general election "in the summer of 2023".

“We have had many conversations since that have not changed my mind,” she continued.

Statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/bFS79e6URd

— Josepha Madigan ⚖️✨ (@josephamadigan) March 22, 2024

Ms Madigan is the 11th Fine Gael TD to state they will not be running for re-election in the next general election. 

Her statement gave no reason why she has also stepped down from her position as Minister of State for Special Education, a role she has held since 2020.

However she confirmed her support for Simon Harris as Leo Varadkar's successor and that she "will be voting" for him.

"I wish Simon the very best in forming a new Fine Gael ministerial team to lead the party into the next election," she said.

Outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar paid tribute to Ms Madigan, calling her "an extremely hard-working Fine Gael public representative".

"Josepha will be missed in the Dáil. I wish her the very best as she takes on a new chapter in her life after politics," he said.