Minister for State for Children Barry Andrews said he believes the Government will last its full-term in office despite Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism Martin Cullen’s resignation.
Mr Andrews said the Coalition had held together despite the “extreme pressure” of last 18 months, and that boded well for making it to the next general election in two years time.
Mr Cullen announced yesterday evening he will retire from public life later this month because of chronic back pain. Mr Cullen, a TD for Waterford said he would resign as both a Minister and as a TD.
In his resignation letter to the Taoiseach, Mr Cullen disclosed he had first raised his serious illness with Brian Cowen in January, but agreed to continue for some months.
It had been anticipated for some weeks that Mr Cullen (56) would step down as a Minister ahead of the forthcoming Cabinet reshuffle because of his back condition which has worsened in recent months.
However, his decision to resign from the Dáil was not anticipated. With Mr Cullen’s departure the Government will have 84 votes in the Dáil compared to 78 for the combined Opposition. Three byelections are now in the offing.
The loss of another TD will raise new doubts as to whether or not the Coalition can last its full term. However, Mr Cullen was adamant last night that the Government would not be forced into an early election and would continue until 2012. He said it still had the numbers to maintain its majority.
He continued: “I have always been a fighter and optimistic in both my personal and political life. However, my consultant’s advice is that my condition is deteriorating further and options for treatment and recovery are narrowing.”
Government sources said Mr Cullen intended to resign a week ago but was dissuaded by the Taoiseach who wished to avoid a Minister resigning for the third week in a row.
In a statement Mr Cowen said he would advise President Mary McAleese of Mr Cullen’s intention to resign at the time of the reshuffle, now expected to occur the week after next.
Mr Cowen said he respected Mr Cullen’s decision and said it was entirely in keeping with the seriousness with which he approached his duties.
Mr Cullen, a former Mayor of Waterford, was first elected to the Dáil in 1987 for the Progressive Democrats. He left the party in 1994 to join Fianna Fáil. He was appointed minister of state with responsibility for the Office of Public Works in 1997 and was appointed minister for environment after the general election in 2002.
Speaking to reporters last night he said the decision was taken with a heavy-heart and that yesterday had proved a traumatic day for him. “I was first elected at 32 years of age. I’m now 56. I have given my very best years to public life and enjoyed every bit of it.”
He said his condition had resulted from an “extremely bad car crash many years ago where I broke my neck.
“I was in hospital for a long time. I consider myself very lucky that I recovered from that and got so many years without the trouble I have faced today. I have chronic back problems and they are getting worse and worse,” he said.
“It would have put me in a position of not being around at all and not being able to be around and not discharge my duties as a TD either nationally or in Waterford.”
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore last night expressed regret that illness had forced Mr Cullen to retire from public life. “While his resignation as a Minister had been widely expected his decision to resign as a TD is a shock and will further erode the stability and life expectancy of the government,” he said.
Fine Gael spokeswoman on arts, sports and tourism, Olivia Mitchell, extended her best wishes to Mr Cullen. “This must be a very difficult time for Minister Cullen who must feel disappointed at having the misfortune to leave the Cabinet due to a medical matter.”