Labour’s Pat Rabbitte undecided about contesting election

Labour's Pat Rabbitte has admitted he is finding it difficult to make up his mind about whether or not to try to contest the next general election.

Mr Rabbitte, a former Labour leader and ex-minister said he had served 30 years in public life and turned 66 years of age last week.

He said he thought a selection convention in his Dublin South-West constituency would be held in the first or second week in July.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said he would therefore have to make up his mind soon.

“I am finding it difficult, yes, I am finding it difficult, yes,” he confirmed.

“I’ve been elected on six separate occasions by the people of Dublin South-West and I’ve done my best to represent them in that time. We have put in train our selection convention for the next general election and I will obviously have to make up my mind by the time of that convention.”

Mr Rabbitte was elected on the first count in 2011, having secured 12,867 votes.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin made clear he was going through no such struggle, however.

Speaking on his way into Government Buildings on Wedesday morning, Mr Howlin said he would be standing in the next general election “if the people of Wexford will have me for the eighth time”.

Meanwhile, former tánaiste and ex-Labour leader Eamon Gilmore is set to retire from politics at the next general election.

Mr Gilmore issued a statement on Tuesday evening announcing that he would not contest the Dún Laoghaire selection convention for the Labour Party.

Last July, another former Labour leader and ex-minister Ruairí Quinn, who represents Dublin South-East, announced his intention to retire from politics at the next general election.