Seanad elections:One-In-Four charity founder Colm O'Gorman has become a Senator after his nomination yesterday by the Taoiseach.
Mr O'Gorman, a Progressive Democrats general election candidate in Wexford, fills the vacancy from the Taoiseach's 11 nominees after the death last month of PD Senator Kate Walsh.
The nomination takes immediate effect, although the Seanad has been adjourned indefinitely, until a new Dáil and Seanad are elected.
The appointment comes as Minister for the Environment Dick Roche announced the dates for the Seanad elections.
The closing date for nominations for candidates for the university constituencies is Friday, June 1st. The poll closes on Tuesday, July 24th at 11am.
Nominations by members of the Oireachtas have to be in by June 22nd, while the deadline for candidates put forward by nominating bodies is Friday, June 15th. The poll closes on Monday, July 23rd.
Mr O'Gorman's charity was founded to assist survivors of abuse, and the Taoiseach said that "his nomination underlines the importance for our communities and our society that these values are affirmed".
Mr O'Gorman said that "while I am saddened that this appointment has arisen because of the death of the late Senator Walsh, I am grateful for the honour and grateful for the party's confidence in me".
PD leader Michael McDowell congratulated the Senator and said he was "an extremely worthy person to fill the position".
Mr O'Gorman, who now becomes the party's education spokesman, was instrumental in the establishment of the Ferns inquiry into clerical sexual abuse.
