Byrne steps down from EU Commission
The former Attorney-General said it had been a difficult decision to step down from European politics, but he felt the time was right to move on.
He is returning to work in the private sector and is likely to resume legal work when his five-year term in Brussels ends.
Mr Byrne was the first European Union Commissioner with responsibility for public health and also held the consumer protection portfolio.
The 57-year-old Kildare man pioneered work on the labelling and traceability of genetically-modified food and restrictions on tobacco advertising. He also worked to promote food safety, especially in meat affected by mad cow disease.
He was responsible for setting up the independent Food Safety body in Parma, Italy and the European Centre for Disease for Disease Prevention and Control which will open in Sweden next year.
Mr Byrne said: "I've enjoyed the work that I've been doing for the past five years, it's very exciting. Political life is very exciting, the ups and downs of it, and I enjoyed every moment of that; but I did believe that the time had now come for me to think long and hard about whether I would continue doing this for another five years.
"On balance, I felt I'd prefer to go back to private life, that's where I was before I became what might be described as an accidental politician some years ago when I became Attorney-General."
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had given no indication that he would consider Mr Byrne for a second term, but yesterday's announcement will narrow his options if he has a problem convincing some of his cabinet colleagues from taking up the job.
Mr Byrne told Mr Ahern of his decision last week. He said: "The Taoiseach was a bit disappointed. He understands why I am doing it."
He said he would like to be involved in some activity where he could use what he had learned in the last few years, both in the legal world and in the field of public health.
On the debate as to who should be the next Commission President both Mr Ahern and former European Parliament President Pat Cox have been mentioned as possible candidates for the role Mr Byrne said he believed that with 25 Commissioners, the job required somebody with strong leadership abilities who would understand the detail and be able to convince the public.
"I appreciate the consensual style of leadership of Romano Prodi. It was very appropriate for 15 but I am not sure it will work with a group of 25," he said.
"It needs more robustness to create a more cohesive unit with a clear expression of vision and leadership."
Mr Byrne said he never imagined he would get the opportunity to become an EU Commissioner.
The lawyer, who was called to the bar in 1970, was a friend and advisor to the Taoiseach who appointed him as Attorney-General in 1997. During his time as a minister, he worked on the Good Friday Agreement and on the Constitutional changes introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty.
Mr Byrne was given a special award by the World Health Organisation for his work on tobacco advertising and was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians in London and in Ireland.
