THE Labour Party is losing one of its chief standard bearers and a certain Dail seat with the decision by Mr Mervyn Taylor, Minister for Equality and Law Reform, to retire from politics at the forthcoming election.
Resisting huge pressure from the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, to contest his ninth general election, he announced yesterday that he felt the time was right for him, at 65, to leave the Dail.
Though he pledged his full support to securing the re election of his colleague, Mr Eamonn Walsh, most observers felt that Labour's chances of retaining two seats in Dublin South West would vanish with his retirement.
A former chairman and vice chairman of the party who espoused a strong anti coalition stance in the 1980s, the highlight of his four year period in Government was the passage of the divorce referendum, which he regarded as "a milestone in Irish social, history". The divorce legislation will come into effect next Thursday.
He listed the Domestic Violence Act, the work for people with disabilities and major changes in the free legal aid and marriage counselling and mediation services as the main achievements of the Department he established in 1992.
He expressed his profound gratitude to Mr Spring last night for giving him the honour of serving in Cabinet "and what has been the opportunity of a lifetime to have responsibility for an exciting and innovative programme of legal and social reforms".
Denying reports that he planned to retire to Israel, Mr Taylor said he was happy to make clear that he would be remaining permanently resident in Dublin.
Mr Spring said his decision to retire from politics, though understandable at a personal level, represented a monumental loss to Irish public life. He would be remembered, Mr Spring added, as the Minister who steered through the historic change that had led to the introduction of divorce in Ireland.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, said few Ministers in recent times had such outstanding success in achieving their stated legislative objectives.
Mr Conor Lenihan, who has been selected to win a second seat for Fianna Fail in Dublin South West, said Mr Taylor was one of nature's gentlemen.
A third Labour TD, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee, is expected to announce his retirement from politics by the weekend. Ms Bridin Twist, head of the Irish Countrywoman's Association, is being tipped to run for the party in Clare.
A former Fine Gael TD and senator, Ms Katharine Bulbulia, will be named today as the Progressive Democrats candidate for Waterford.
. Mr Taylor is the 15th sitting TD and the second member of the Labour Party to announce he will not be contesting the next general election. Nine of those retiring are from Fianna Fail, three from Fine Gael, two from Labour and one from the Progressive Democrats.
Three Fianna Fail TDs who are also MEPs are stepping down because all political parties now require holders of the dual mandate to choose between the Dail and the European Parliament. They are Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher (Donegal South West), Mr Gerry Collins (Limerick West), and Mr Liam Hyland (Laois Offaly).
The other Fianna Fail deputies standing down are Mrs Maire Geoghegan Quinn (Galway West), Mr Ger Connolly (Laois Offaly), Mr Colm Hilliard (Meath), Mr Jimmy Leonard (Cavan Monaghan), Mr Michael J. Noonan (Limerick West) and Mr John O'Leary (Kerry South).
The three Fine Gael TDs not standing again are Mr Peter Barry (Cork South Central), Mr Jim Mitchell (Dublin Central) and Mr Ted Nealon (Sligo Leitrim). The Progressive Democrat TD is Mr Peadar Clohessy (Limerick East).
