THE Fianna Fail MEP and TD for Limerick West, Mr Gerry Collins, has confirmed he will not seek re-selection as a Dail candidate. After 29 years as a TD, the former minister for foreign affairs and justice said yesterday that he would continue his political career in Europe and remain involved in trying to retain Fianna Fail's two seats in Limerick West in the next general election.
The party's other TD in the constituency, Mr Michael J. Noonan, has also declared that he will not seek Dail re-election. The Fianna Emil leadership must now try to retain its supremacy in Limerick West without a candidate who is an outgoing member of the Oireachtas.
Mr Collins was first elected to the Dail almost 30 years ago when he was returned in a by election caused by the death of his father, James J. Collins. He, in turn, had been a TD since 1948. It is anticipated that Mr Collins's younger brother, Michael, will be nominated when the party holds its convention in two months.
During his Dail career he won a seat in 10 general elections, held three ministerial portfolios, was minister for posts and telegraphs between 1970 and 1973 and held the justice portfolio from 1977 to 1981 and from 1987 to 1989. His favourite portfolio was foreign affairs and he held this ministry between March and December, 1982, and again from 1989 to 1992.
But he was not invited to join the new Cabinet of Mr Albert Reynolds when he took over the Fianna Fail leadership and became Taoiseach in 1992.
Political observers held afterwards that Mr Collins had made one of the few gaffes of his political career when he made a public and emotional television appeal to Mr Reynolds not to challenge Mr Haughey's leadership. Though it led to exile on the backbenches and considerable ridicule, he stood by what he had done.
"I made full sure that it [being dropped from Cabinet] did not get me down. But I was not prepared to sit on the backbenches twiddling my thumbs. I turned my eyes to Europe; I had just finished a successful EU presidency and it was exciting work. I contested the European elections [for Munster]," he said yesterday.
In a statement of thanks to his organisation yesterday, Mr Collins expressed appreciation for the confidence expressed in him by Fianna Fail Taoisigh, Lemass, Lynch and Haughey, omitting Mr Reynolds from the list.
He later paid ample tribute to the party leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, who said Mr Collins was "a close and loyal friend" who had dedicated his life to public service in a number of guises spanning four decades.
"Of all the political figures with whom I have worked and co operated with over the years, Gerry's sense of commitment and dedication to his constituents, the Fianna Fail party, the country and Europe stands out. To those of us who have known Gerry down the years, his great wit and spirit of generosity will bring back many fond memories," Mr Ahern added.