Fianna Fáil TD GV Wright has announced he will not seek re-election to the Dáil at the next general election.
The TD is one of two Fianna Fáil deputies in Dublin North. He is the second TD for the area to announce he will not contest the next election after the Labour deputy Sean Ryan also recently said he would step down.
In a statement, Mr Wright said he wished to make a career change at a time when he felt capable of taking on new challenges and that he believed it was time for a younger person to take on the job.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern paid tribute to the Malahide-based TD, saying he was a "hard-working, competent and popular public representative" for almost a quarter of a century.
"His departure from political life will be keenly felt by his colleagues in Fianna Fáil and his constituents in Dublin North," Mr Ahern said. "As a parliamentarian, GV has shown first-class communication skills and an astute mind.
"His political talents saw him appointed leader of the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad by three successive Party Leaders. For my own part, I was pleased to appoint GV Leader of Fianna Fáil in the Senate in 1995. I will always be grateful for the huge volume of work he put in during that period when Fianna Fáil were in opposition."
Mr Ahern said he was "extremely grateful" to Mr Wright for his "strong support" during his time as Taoiseach.
The other Fianna Fail TD in Dublin North, Jim Glennon, also paid tribute to his retiring colleague.
"GV has served the people of the North County for almost a quarter of a century in many different capacities, as a member of, Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council, Seanad Éireann and Dáil Éireann. I believe that GV at all times displayed a passionate interest in all matters affecting the North County and in particular his beloved Malahide," he said.
Mr Wright was appointed to the Seanad by then taoiseach Charles Haughey in 1982. He was elected to Dublin County Council in 1985. He served as a TD from 1987 to 1989, when he lost his seat. He was re-elected in 1997 and has served as TD for Dublin North since then.
He was a member of Dublin County Council, and later Fingal County Council, from 1985 to 2004.
Lobbyist and former government press secretary Frank Dunlop has claimed at the Mahon tribunal that he made a payment of £7,000 to Mr Wright during his time on Dublin County Council.
Mr Wright was also the centre of controversy just over two years ago when he was banned from driving for two years and fined €900 when he pleaded guilty to a drink driving offence in which a pedestrian was injured.
The TD is a former international basketball player and former Dublin GAA footballer.