On the abolishment of dual mandate in 2003, he resigned his seat on Cork City Council which was filled by co-option. The party seat was not retained by the PD's in the 2004 local elections. In January 2006 he was selected to run for a Dáil seat representing the Progressive Democrats in the Cork South-Central at the 2007 general election, but did not win a seat, getting 1,596 first preference votes. He was not returned to the Seanad in the 2007 Seanad election. Minihan is retired from politics.