Denis Naughten

The TD said that he doesn't have a new gig lined up, but that he wants to go back to his background in science.

There was a single bidder left in the process “The reality is there was huge vested interest against making this happen. Naughten said that there will “always be challenges” in a rural constituency such as his, but that he believes that broadband access will level out “access to services’ across the country. In this case, there was a clear written commitment from the incoming Minister for Health.” Naughten has been an Independent TD for the Roscommon-Galway constituency since 2016. From 2007 to 2016 he was TD for Roscommon-South Leitrim, and from 1997 to 2007 he was a TD for the Longford-Roscommon constituency.

Denis Naughten has announced that he will not contest the next General Election, which is due in 2025. Commenting on his decision he stated "I have decided.

"Since my initial election I have fought tirelessly for the improvement and delivery of our health services at both local and national level. "I entered politics at a young age, in difficult circumstances, and it was always my intention to turn my hand to something outside politics. It has truly been an honour to represent the people from those counties in Dáil Éireann over that time.

TD was minister for two years but resigned over contacts with businessman who won broadband contract.

The absence of Naughten will mean that a seat will be in play for either Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil. However, if there are radical changes in the boundaries and a new constituency of Roscommon-East Mayo is created, that will invariably change the dynamic. After the uncertain result of the 2016 General Election, Naughten was one of a small number of Independent TDs who supported the minority Fine Gael government. His stance on the hospital was widely supported in the country. Kenny and Naughten’s father were very close friends, and Naughten was a strong supporter of the Mayo politician during his early years as leader. He has retained his Dáil seat every since, despite three major boundary changes in the constituency, and his parting of ways with Fine Gael.