The former Labour leader and Tanaiste, Mr Dick Spring, has ended speculation about his future political intentions by confirming he will contest the next general election.
He said he turned down a two-year appointment as United Nations administrator in Kosovo six months ago to concentrate on his Kerry North constituency, which he has represented in the Dail since 1981. Mr Spring has taken on a number of business interests since stepping down from the Labour leadership, and has also relinquished his front-bench foreign affairs portfolio, leading to speculation locally and nationally that he might retire from politics at the next election.
However, Mr Spring, in interview with the Kerryman, said his name would go before Labour's north Kerry selection convention next January.
The three-seat Kerry North, where Mr Spring headed the poll with almost 30 per cent of the first preference vote in 1997, will see a strong challenge for a seat from Mr Martin Ferris, a Sinn Fein county councillor, at the next election.
