People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has announced that he will be stepping back from politics due to a recent diagnosis of throat cancer.

Deputy Boyd Barrett revealed his diagnosis on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne.

"I wanted to take the opportunity to say I recently got a cancer diagnosis and I found out a few weeks ago," he said.

"I have to enter into a fairly intensive period of cancer treatment over the next... well, it's going to certainly take a couple of months probably."

According to Deputy Boyd Barrett, he first noticed a swelling in his neck during the General Election campaign last year.

"They suspected that it was cancer - they had to do an operation, a biopsy," he said.

"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."

Deputy Boyd Barrett said his doctor believed he likely picked up the virus years ago, and that it could have been activated due to age, stress or a weakened immune system.

He said that his office in Dun Laoghaire will remain open, and that retired People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has offered to help with its operation.

Main image: Solidarity-People Before Profit's Ruth Coppinger (left) Richard Boyd Barrett (centre) and Paul Murphy speaking to media at Leinster House, Dublin, as the Dail returns after a break. Picture date: Wednesday March 19, 2025. Image: PA Images / Alamy