Fianna Fail Minister of State Sile de Valera has announced she does not intent to contest the next General Election.
Ms de Valera, who has been a TD in Co Clare for 30 years, broke her decision to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tonight following meetings with her Fianna Fail constituency colleagues and local party workers.
The TD, who has served in a variety of ministries during her career, is currently junior minister at the Department of Education. She said tonight she intended to stay on in that role until the next election.