Richard Boyd Barret has revealed he will be stepping back from politics as he undergoes treatment for throat cancer.
The People Before Profit TD was in the middle of the general election campaign when he noticed a swelling on his throat while shaving.
He said the diagnosis was “a shock”, but he was “heartened by the confidence of the doctors”. He added that telling his family, especially his son, was the hardest part.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Boyd Barrett said he wanted to let his constituents and supporters know that he will be taking a step back as he undergoes a gruelling course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which is expected to begin next week.
“Apparently, the treatment is pretty rough,” Mr Boyd Barrett said, adding that he has been told that eating and drinking will be difficult given the place of the cancer.
Having gone to the doctor immediately after November’s election, Mr Boyd Barrett was referred for cancer screening.
“I ended up having to get my tonsils taken out, and they found that I had throat cancer that was prompted by the HPV virus. I didn’t know much about it, but apparently about 70% or 80% of the population have it. It can be sitting in your system.
“The doctor said ‘you probably picked this up years ago and then it can just activate’.”
Encouraging young people to avail of a vaccine which is now available, he said: “People should be aware of the HPV virus. I sort of was aware of it, but I didn’t realise 70% or 80% of the population have it. It’s just latent there.”
Mr Boyd Barrett added that he was very “unlucky” as the cancer was not caused by smoking or any genetic reasons.
“It’s going to be hard to step back, I’ll be honest, looking at the stuff that’s happening, there are very dramatic events happening around the world.
“I’m sorry I won’t be around for some of them, you know, the economic war Trump has launched; the horrors that are ongoing in Gaza; the housing crisis, which is a huge issue in this country and in my area.
“I regret, in a way, that I won’t be around to campaign on those things, but all going well, I’ll be back.”
He added that it “wouldn’t be a bad idea” to have a system of allowing TDs to use a substitute if they have to take leave for medical reasons.
Speaking in Cork, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “very sorry” to hear that Mr Boyd Barrett had throat cancer.
“I want to wish Richard the very, very best as he receives treatment. He is a very passionate contributor to Dáil Éireann — I’ve always enjoyed our jousts — I wish him well.
“We have good, very modern treatments so the very best to Richard on his recovery.”