A Fianna Fáil Senator, Mr Michael Brennan is to defect to the Progressive Democrats today after leaving the party yesterday in a row over local election candidates.
Senator Brennan, who is among the members of Limerick County Council debarred from running in June because of the abolition of the dual mandate, sought unsuccessfully to secure a nomination for June's local elections for his wife, Mrs Rose Brennan, in the Bruff electoral area.
However, Mrs Brennan failed to get the nomination. Among those nominated was Mr Niall Collins, a nephew of sitting TD Mr Michael Collins, who resigned the party whip last year after it emerged he had used a bogus non-resident bank account to evade tax.
There was local speculation earlier this month that Mrs Brennan would be added to the party ticket before the election, but this did not happen.
Senator Brennan was one of the Taoiseach's 11 nominees to the Seanad last year. He told the Taoiseach and the leader of the Seanad Mrs Mary O'Rourke yesterday of his decision to leave. His membership of the PD parliamentary party is expected to be ratified at a meeting tonight.
Aged 57, Mr Brennan is from Adare, Co Limerick. He has been a member of Limerick County Council since 1983 and was chairman of the Council in 2000.
He is based in the Limerick West Dáil constituency, where the Progressive Democrats currently do not have a Dáil seat.