The Rev Ian Paisley has today announced he will quit the European Parliament in June.
The DUP leader, who has topped a poll in Northern Ireland in every European Parliament election, confirmed at Stormont he would not be seeking re-election.
Dr Paisley will remain the MP and Assembly member for North Antrim and will head his party's talks team and review of the Belfast Agreement on February 3rd.
The decision will mark the end of a colourful 25-year career in the European Parliament.
After receiving almost 30 per cent of the overall Northern Ireland vote in the 1979 European election, he became the first MEP to speak in the Parliament when he protested that the Union Flag was flying upside down.
The DUP leader also interrupted the speech of the then Taoiseach, Mr Jack Lynch, to complain about the Government's refusal to sign the European Convention on Terrorism.
In 1988 Mr Paisley faced angry objections from MEPs and was ejected from the European Parliament when he interrupted an address by Pope John Paul II.
He was an active member of the European Parliament Agriculture and Fisheries Committee, vigorously putting forward Northern Ireland's case during subsidy negotiations.
PA