This article is from page 12 of the 2005-11-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
: “T know that there were all sorts of rumours circulating about my health, but I’m glad to be able to say that they have no foun- CR IB(eyNe
“It was not very pleasant, but being so long in po- litical life, you have to grow a thick skin and that is sadly the more unseemly side of politics. I just prefer to stay away from that kind of approach to politics.”
On reports that she was not working on the ground in the constituency, Minister de Valera said, “Maybe you put that down to political mischief making; after all, conventions are afoot and elections are down for 2007. You will always have rumours like that circu- lating.
“T don’t put too much emphasis on reports like that and I have been working as hard as I can.”
Minister de Valera said that her decision to retire from politics was “a leap of faith to try to have a sec- ond career”’.
The 50-year old stated that she had been thinking about retiring from politics “for quite some time’, but declined to state for how long.
Asked how her retirement would affect Fianna Fail’s election prospects in Clare in the next General Election, Minister de Valera said: ““No one is indis- pensable and Fianna Fail is lucky that they have some potential candidates who already have tremendous experience.
“It will be up to the Fianna Fail organisation when the convention comes on January 9 and depending on the choice, I will be only too happy to support those particularly candidates.”
Minister de Valera said that her record in Clare was for others to judge.
‘“T have worked very hard. If you go into public life, although there is a some sense of cynicism, working and knowing the system from the inside, certaintly to be re-elected you have to work very hard, you re- ally do.
“It is a tough existence, it means that you have less time for family, friends and hobbies. That is the choice you make and you make that willingly and I will have been in political life for 30 years by the time the next election comes around, so it is time to move on.”
Minister de Valera described her decision as a ‘life-changing one” and said that she now hopes to complete her PhD in psychology and also write a po- litical memoir.
In relation to her PhD, Minister de Valera said, “It is not possible to carry those particular interests along with a political life. I have had marvellous opportu- nities in my political life, serving as a front bench spokesperson, vice-president of Fianna Fail, a Minis- ter at the cabinet table and now a Junior Minister.
“It has been a great experience and I have every 1n- tention of working extremely hard for the remainder of my time as a TD.”
Asked if she was in any way disillusioned with poli- tics, Minister de Valera said, “Disillusioned? No, I have and will continue to have a tremendous interest in politics.”