Politics

Veteran Fianna Fáil TDs compete for Seanad seats

Ex-TDs such as Niall Blaney, who left the Dáil in 2011, are among those running in election

The incoming Dáil, the outgoing Seanad and councillors – an electorate of about 1,200 – get to decide on 43 senators. Photograph: Alan Betson
The incoming Dáil, the outgoing Seanad and councillors – an electorate of about 1,200 – get to decide on 43 senators. Photograph: Alan Betson
Fiach Kelly
Tue Mar 15 2016 - 01:00

Three former Fianna Fáil TDs who left the Dáil in 2011 are looking to return to Leinster House by competing in the upcoming election to the 24th Seanad.

Also running for a seat in the Upper House is singer Frances Black, nominated as an Independent candidate on the Industrial and Commercial panel by the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland. Labour Party Minister of State Ged Nash, who lost his seat in Louth at the general election, is standing on the Labour panel.

Former Fianna Fáil deputies Tom McEllistrim, Seán Power and Niall Blaney have been confirmed as Seanad candidates from outside nominated bodies.

Mr McEllistrim and Mr Power lost their seats in Kerry North and Kildare South respectively in the 2011 general election, while Mr Blaney chose not to try to retain his seat in Donegal North East at that election.

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The deadline for candidates from outside nominating bodies was noon yesterday, and the three are among a high number of Fianna Fáil figures seeking election.

Deadline

The provisional list of candidates nominated by external bodies to the Cultural and Educational, Agricultural, Labour, Industrial and Commercial and Administrative panels was published yesterday and next Monday is the deadline for nominations from the Oireachtas.

Some who are on the provisional list are not expected to run, however, such as outgoing Fianna Fáil senator Ned O’Sullivan, who was praised during the last Seanad for his speech in favour of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

Fine Gael figures seeking election include Lucan councillor William Lavelle, an adviser to Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, and Linda O’Shea-Farren and Dún Laoghaire councillor Barry Ward, both running on the Industrial and Commercial panel.

Sinn Féin councillor Fintan Warfield, a former mayor of South Dublin, is standing on the Cultural and Educational panel, while unsuccessful Renua general election candidate Mailo Power is on the Industrial and Commercial panel. Outgoing Labour senator Denis Landy is seeking re-election on the Agricultural panel.

University vote

The incoming Dáil, the outgoing Seanad and councillors – an electorate of about 1,200 – get to decide on 43 senators. Six others are voted in on the Trinity College and NUI university panels, while the Taoiseach appoints 11.

Fianna Fáil has most councillors in the wake of the 2014 local elections, followed by Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.