Less than 24 hours after a surprise defeat in his attempt to become Labour's Euro candidate for Leinster, Mr Michael Bell TD has resigned as chairman of the parliamentary party.
He faxed Labour Party offices in Leinster House yesterday morning to say he was stepping down, a development directly attributed to his defeat at the selection convention.
Confirming he had received "with regret" notice of Mr Bell's decision yesterday, the Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said Mr Bell had been elected chairman of the parliamentary party on three occasions and had served them well. He thanked the Louth TD for all the work he had done over the years.
Mr Bell had hoped to have been nominated last Sunday to contest next year's election to the European Parliament, but was thwarted by a relative unknown, Mr Sean Butler.
The shock defeat was decisive - 67 votes to 31 - a majority that apparently precludes the Labour leadership from deciding to add Mr Bell to the ticket.
On RTE television Mr Bell claimed the result had been determined in advance. He said he was keeping his options open.
TDs and senators meet to consider his replacement as chairman of the parliamentary party tomorrow week.
Mr Bell first contested the European elections in 1989, polling 75,000 votes, and sought a seat again in 1994 when he lost by just over 100 votes. In 1982 he won a Dail seat in Louth for Labour - the party's first in 40 years - and has retained the seat since. As a local government representative, he has been elected to Louth County Council and Drogheda Corporation on a total of 10 occasions, topping the poll six times. His resignation as chairman of the PLP represents his second retirement from a senior post in the party this year. He stepped down as spokesman on defence at the request of the leadership after expressing his intention to pursue an Army deafness claim.
Mr Bell is still Labour's spokesman for marine and natural resources.
The meeting in Dromineer, which Mr Bell is not attending, concludes today and was called to allow members of the PLP discuss social and economic matters prior to the resumption of the Dail next week.
The deputy leader of the Labour Party, Mr Brendan Howlin TD, said he was disappointed. "I urged him not to take the course of action. He obviously felt it was important for him to win the convention vote."
Ms Roisin Shortall TD, deputy chairwoman of the parliamentary party, said she was very disappointed and the decision was regrettable. "I can understand his disappointment with the results, but I am not sure if his action was warranted."
Mr Michael D Higgins TD said: "It's a pity. I was surprised. He put a lot of work into the party and it was one of the consequences of conventions." Asked if he should reconsider, the deputy said: "It's a matter for himself but I think I understand his decision."
Mr Emmet Stagg TD said he was very sorry as Mr Bell was a very good and excellent chairman. "I presume he felt hurt that he didn't get elected. He sent me a copy of his resignation letter and it seemed to be very definitive. He was a good hard-working chairman."
The meeting in Dromineer, which Mr Bell did not attend, ends today.