Former Labour TD, Emmet Stagg, passes away at 79

Former Labour Party TD Emmet Stagg has passed away at the age of 79.

Serving as a TD for a remarkable 29 years, Mr Stagg represented both the Kildare and Kildare North constituencies from 1987 to 2016.

During his tenure, Mr Stagg held significant positions within the government, notably serving twice as a minister of state in the Rainbow Coalition Government, a coalition comprising Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and Democratic Left.

From 1993 to 1994, he held the role of Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, followed by a term as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Energy, and Communications from 1994 to 1997.

He assumed the position of Labour Party Chief Whip from 2007 to 2016 and served as Deputy Government Chief Whip from 2011 to 2016.

Despite losing his seat in the 2016 general election, Mr Stagg remained committed to public service, contesting the 2020 election in an attempt to regain his seat. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful in this endeavor.

Following the death of former Kildare Labour TD and Minister of State Emmet Stagg, Labour Party Leader Ivana Bacik said: "I want to pay tribute to our friend and colleague Emmet Stagg on his passing, and extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Mary, children Gillian and Henry, extended family, friends, and supporters. 

"Emmet was a pillar of Labour politics, both in Leinster House, and in Kildare, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He was kind and considerate, and maintained a keen interest in Labour politics even after leaving the Dáil.

"Those of us who knew him as a friend and supportive mentor over many years are particularly saddened by the news of his passing. Outside of politics he also had a keen interest in gardening and fishing, and regaled us all over the years with many stories. Our deepest sympathies are with Mary and his family at this time."