Jack Wall changed mind about retirement

Kildare South Labour TD Jack Wall had been considering retirement from politics before the current election became imminent, but he decided to run again because the state of the country is so bad.

"Every day I meet people in really difficult circumstances, and I decided that I simply couldn't bale out at this time," he told the Diary last night. "I remember the recession of the 80s, but this one is much worse than that."

And he says that if the electorate dropped him, at least he would go out with his head held high. "I believe that if I just retired now, I'd be showing the white flag."

First elected to Athy UDC in 1991, he was nominated to Seanad Eireann in 1993, and elected to Dail Eireann in 1997. He was re-elected in 2002 and 2007 and is currently spokesman on Arts, Sport and Tourism.

He is widely tipped to top the poll in Kildare South in the upcoming election.

The Diary hopes to provide full interviews with all the Kildare South candidates, including Jack Wall, between now and the election.