Outgoing TDs speak about bidding farewell to Dáil Éireann

Of the 160 TDs in the 33rd Dáil, 36 are not seeking re-election on 29 November.

RTÉ's Morning Ireland spoke with several TDs who are retiring from political life, asking them to reflect on what has changed in their time in the Oireachtas:

Brendan Howlin

Former Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has been representing Wexford in the Dáil for the past 38 years and including his time in the Seanad has spent nearly 42 years in the Oireachtas.

The biggest change he has seen in that time is how TDs interact with the electorate.

When Mr Howlin first entered the Dáil, TDs had telephone connections, and not everyone had that.

"For many social media is empowering, it allows them to voice their views but unfortunately for some it's a mechanism for abuse, and I think that's the sad thing that has happened over my time in politics."

Bríd Smith

Bríd Smith has been a TD for People Before Profit in Dublin South Central for the last nine years and involved in politics for decades before that. She first ran for a Dáil seat in 1997.

In that time, Ms Smith says that the biggest change she's seen is "the breakdown of the conservative pillars of Old Ireland."

Ms Smith said she had given aspiring TDs the advice to look after their own health and friends and family.

"It's really important to stick to your principles and not to get caught up in the Dáil bubble," she said.

"There's a whole world outside the Dáil that you need to remember to relate to," Ms Smith added.

"Speak to the issues of the people that elected you and you speak to the people that elected you and always speak the truth."

Richard Bruton

In the last Dáil term, Fine Gael's Richard Bruton was the 'father of the Dáil' along with Fianna Fáil's Willie O'Dea.

Mr Bruton, brother of former taoiseach John Bruton, has been a TD for 43 years and has also held several ministerial roles.

The biggest change that Mr Bruton noticed in that time is the role of the media.

"When I started out, you had three daily newspapers that gave very wide coverage to politics.

"RTÉ, was listened to religiously and essentially the media became the prism through which politicians were seen. That's completely changed."

Mr Bruton said that not only is there far less coverage of politics by conventional media but the ability of every public representative to be their own editor and publish on social media has made coverage of politicians "a very reactive space".

Listening to people is the main advice Mr Bruton would give to aspiring TDs.

"Parties need to develop new ways of making policy that's much more inclusive of people that reaches out to people," he said.

"I think our system of policy making is too centralised, not enough voices get heard from people who have experience at the coal face."

Sean Haughey

Like Richard Bruton, Fianna Fáil's Sean Haughey is also related to a former Taoiseach - his father was Charles Haughey.

Mr Haughey was first elected to the Dáil 26 years and before that he served as a senator and county councillor.

In his time in politics, he says the issues that are brought to TDs have become "much more varied and complex."

"I think TDs need to be in tune with a wide range of issues," Mr Haughey said.

Social media was also cited by Sean Haughey as a dramatic change in politics.

"A kind of coarseness has entered political debate. There's a little bit of personal abuse politicians have to put up with nowadays," the departing Dublin Bay North TD said.

"Having said all that, right throughout the period, the vast majority of people are generally pleasant and nice and courteous."

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Mr Haughey added that it was a "great honour and a privilege" to be a TD.

"Never take that trust for granted," he added.

Catherine Murphy

Catherine Murphy was first elected to the Dáil in 2005 and was a councillor on Kildare County Council since the early 1990s.

The biggest change she has seen in her time in politics is housing security.

"That's changed the dynamic of politics," she said.

"It challenges the social fabric of the country."

On the advice she would give to aspiring TDs, Ms Murphy said that you should "always striving to build good communities in a fair and decent society is well worth the effort".

"It's not just about the next general election; it's really about the next generation," Ms Murphy added.