Despite many calls urging him to stay on as leader of the Labour Party, Mr Dick Spring will inform his parliamentary party tomorrow that he intends to resign forthwith. His decision to step down is said by senior sources in the party to be "irrevocable" and it will pave the way for a contest to replace him within 30 days of his resignation.
A confidence motion tabled by the party chairman, Mr Michael Bell, will not be taken at tomorrow's 11 a.m. meeting and Mr Spring is expected to deliver his crucial address to his 19 parliamentary party colleagues under an item on the agenda dealing with the presidential election.
Although leading figures in the party have continued openly to pledge their support for his ongoing leadership, it is now firmly believed that Mr Spring will not be persuaded to alter his plans to become a backbencher.
It is understood that Mr Spring will not defend his Kerry North seat at the next general election. However, he intends to spend a great deal of his time in the constituency in the interim. Sources said that reports that he might be moving to the United States to work there were without foundation.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday that Mr Fergus Finlay, Labour's political director, who announced his resignation on Sunday, is to become a presenter of a programme on RTE television once a week. A spokeswoman for RTE said yesterday that Mr Finlay would be involved in a latenight show, Later On Two, which will feature politics, modern culture and matters relating to women.
A Labour spokesman last night said that the party's headquarters in Dublin and the leader's office had received a large number of calls, letters and fax messages from members expressing "anxiety" that Mr Spring might step down.
Speculation was growing that the race to succeed Mr Spring will involve the former minister for finance and current deputy leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, and the former environment minister and present chief whip, Mr Brendan Howlin. The Dublin North West TD, Ms Roisin Shortall, has also been mentioned as a possible contender, although at this stage she is regarded as an outsider. It is believed that the Galway West TD and former minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Michael D. Higgins, will not be a candidate.
The electoral college comprises the Parliamentary Labour Party and the General Council, the ruling body of the party. The 64member General Council is made up of party officers, representatives of the Labour Women's Group, Labour Youth, a trade union group, county councillors and others elected at the party conference.
In the event of Mr Spring's resignation, Mr Quinn would take over the leadership before a joint meeting of the PLP and the General Council is convened to elect a successor. The secret ballot is likely to take place well within the mandatory 30-day period. This would ensure that the party does not have to become involved in by-elections in Limerick East and Dublin North while simultaneously conducting a leadership campaign.
Amid the avalanche of support for the party leader were statements from Mr Quinn and Mr Howlin, who refused to countenance a contest to replace Mr Spring until he had declared his intentions. Saying that he would not put pressure on him "either way", Mr Quinn stated that Mr Spring had his backing, while Mr Howlin said that he had requested him to remain in the post.
Labour must now put a new spring in its step: page 6