Michael O'Regan,
Parliamentary Reporter
The decision by Ms Maeve Spring not to contest next summer's local elections represents a severe blow to the Labour Party's efforts to win back its Kerry North Dáil seat.
Ms Spring's decision was announced in a statement by the Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, yesterday.
While fully appreciating her reasons for standing down, he expressed regret at her loss to politics, adding that she had shown "exceptional commitment and dedication" in serving the people of Kerry North.
A widow with two children, she had been privately expressing her desire to retire from politics for personal reasons for some time.
Ms Spring, a sister of the former Tánaiste and party Mr Dick Spring, is a member of Kerry County Council and Tralee Urban Council, and served as her brother's constituency secretary during his years as Labour TD for Kerry North. Unless another member of the extended Spring family can be persuaded to run, Ms Spring's decision will remove the Spring name from the political line-up in Kerry North for the first time in 60 years.
Speculation will now centre on Ms Spring's nephew, Mr Arthur Spring jnr, a Dublin-based bank executive.
He has met with party officials to discuss the matter.
Despite polling impressively, Mr Dick Spring lost his seat to Sinn Féin's Mr Martin Ferris in the last general election.
He has since made it clear that he has no intention of returning to active politics.