She served as Minister for Education, Health and Public Enterprise in a political career spanning four decades.

The two remaining candidates will face off for the party's nomination in Roscommon-Galway tonight.

The government added €12 a week to all core rates of social welfare yesterday, including for the unemployed.

Keogh was one of five candidates nominated for the Roscommon-Galway convention, for the upcoming general election.

He made the call at this week's meeting of Ballinamore Municipal District.

The Brideswell native said he made the decision due to the party's directive yesterday confirming it would only run one candidate in the forthcoming General Election. 

The party has confirmed it will select just one General Election candidate at its convention next Thursday.

Fianna Fail does not currently have a seat in the constituency.