A Fianna Fail Member of the European Parliament, Mr Mark Killilea, has announced his decision to retire from politics in under two years to spend more time with his family.
The Connacht/Ulster MEP has informed party workers that he will not be seeking a nomination for the 1999 European election.
His decision will bring an end to 70 years of involvement in both Irish and European politics by the Killilea family: his late father was first elected to the Dail in 1927.
Mr Killilea (58) was a member of the Oireachtas from 1969 to 1987, when he became a member of the European Parliament. He now holds a position as one of the five Quaestors, with responsibility for all matters to do with staffing and accommodation in the 560member parliament.
Mr Killilea will finish his fiveyear term, but his early announcement gives the party time to select a candidate to run alongside the sitting MEP, Mr Pat "The Cope" Gallagher, in 1999.
In his letter to party workers in his constituency, Mr Killilea said:
"I feel that the time has come for me to step back from the political arena, and to spend more time with my wife Anne and family."