Analysis: End of an era for Labour as Brendan Howlin bows out of politics

The Labour party has long been expecting that Brendan Howlin would not be contesting the next general election

The Wexford TD has been a member of the Dáil for the past 36 years, having been elected in every general election since 1987.

Howlin, 67, served as Minister for Health and Minister for Environment in the Fine Gael-Labour-Democratic Left “Rainbow coalition” in 1995-1997 and as Minister for Public Expenditure in the Fine Gael-Labour coalition between 2011-2016.