Disappointed Kitt to step down at next election

A DISAPPOINTED Tom Kitt yesterday announced he would step down at the next general election after being dropped from the Cabinet.

The Dublin South TD denied he was bitter after Taoiseach Brian Cowen reappointed Pat Carey in his place as Government chief whip, which comes with a seat at the Cabinet table.

He said he had wanted Foreign Affairs, a position given to Cork minister Micheál Martin. “A lot of people had said don’t do this and don’t make decisions when you’re emotional. I’m not doing it that way. If you wanted to give me my dream one, it would have been Foreign Affairs... but that’s not to happen.”

The TD admitted he had turned down an offer from Mr Cowen for a position as a junior minister.

Mr Kitt said he had gone home after the shock announcement and dug out his driving licence, as he would no longer have a state car. It was strange, now that he would only have his secretary when he was used to working with up to 15 staff in his role as chief whip, he explained.

First elected in 1987, he held several junior minister portfolios, including Enterprise and as Minister for Aid among other roles, before becoming Government chief whip in June 2004.

There had been no room for him though in the “first team selection” on the front bench this time around, he told RTÉ yesterday.

The former national school teacher said he would stay on in his constituency until the next General Election, which he hoped would be 2012, and was fully in support of Mr Cowen.

“There isn’t an ounce of bitterness in my body... and that’s as genuine as I can be,” said the backbencher.

Meanwhile, 16 junior ministerial positions are to be announced next week.