CONFIRMATION that the Labour TD, Mr John Ryan, will retire at the next general election has surprised his colleagues and led to fears that the party will lose its North Tipperary seat.
In a statement yesterday Mr Ryan (69) said he would "continue to serve his constituents to the best of my ability until the dissolution of this Dail".
His decision to leave national politics was "final", his statement said, and he expressed deep gratitude and appreciation "to the loyal and trusted members of the party in North Tipperary" who had worked over the past 27 years to maximise Labour's vote.
It is understood that his age was a major factor in his decision to stand down, but party sources said the redrawing of constituency boundaries "did not help".
Fianna Fail is bound to exploit his exit as he enjoyed a strong personal vote, and there is no obvious high profile Labour candidate to take his place.
Born in Long Island, New York, in 1927, Mr Ryan was first elected to the Dail in 1973. A former Lead Ceann Comhairle he was a CIE employee and a union official.