Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has announced his resignation as a Cabinet minister.

The Dublin South-East TD said he will not be running in the next general election.

Mr Quinn has confirmed he will be standing down as a Cabinet minister and doesn't want to be reconsidered for inclusion.

The Education Minister was expected to be dropped in the reshuffle in the coming weeks after Joan Burton becomes Labour Party leader and Tanaiste.

However, he has rejected suggestions he has jumped from the Cabinet before he was pushed by Joan Burton.

Contacts were made between Mr Quinn and Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore’s office this morning.

Labour's chief whip Emmet Stagg paid tribute to Mr Quinn on RTE's News at One, and said the former Education Minister had completed "a lifetime of service" as a public representative for 40 years.

He said Mr Quinn was the first Minister for Finance that ever recorded a surplus while he served.

He disregarded as "nonsense" the notion that ageism is evident in the Labour Party. He said it's "a good sign" that a second tier of Labour party members are now emerging through the ranks.

Irish Independent