The Education Minister and Labour party member Ruairí Quinn has announced his resignation as a Cabinet Minister. The Minister was expected to be dropped in the coming weeks during the Cabinet reshuffle.
According to the Irish Independent, Quinn will also be retiring from politics at the next general election.
The move seems to be due to the fact that Joan Burton is expected to take over as leader of the Labour party and as Tanaiste. The Irish Times reports that Burton would possibly not re-appoint Quinn after she takes over.
The Minister confirmed the news in a statement this afternoon: "I will not seek to continue as a member of Government after the election of the new leader of the Labour party. I will not seek re-election at the next general election."
Quinn continued: "I made my decision on my own behalf for myself. The best thing for me to do was to clear the path for next generation of leadership."
He was also eager to declare that relations with Burton were "very, very good."
Quinn was appointed Minister for Education and Skills in March 2011. He has been a public representative since 1974 and a T.D. since 1977.
Hat tip to Jonathan Healy.
