Fianna Fáil Minister of State for Education Síle de Valera has announced that she will not run again for the Dáil, though she intends to stay on as a junior minister in the present Dáil.
Though not unexpected, the timing of her decision appears to be linked to Fianna Fáil's decision to arrange the Clare constituency selection convention for January 10th. She broke the news to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last evening, followed by conversations with her Fianna Fáil constituency colleagues and local party officers.
The departure of Ms de Valera, who will have served 30 years in political life by 2007, will open up the Clare constituency in the next general election.Three candidates are expected to go before the selection convention: Minister of State Tony Killeen, Senator Tim Dooley and Senator Brendan Daly. However, Fine Gael has high hopes that the son of Donal Carey will gain it a seat.