The sister of the late Labour TD, Dr Pat Upton, will be the party's candidate for the Dublin South Central by-election, expected to take place on October 21st.
Dr Mary Upton will be cleared as the by-election candidate after the Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, meets the other potential candidate and former Labour TD, Mr Eric Byrne, later this week.
Mr Quinn confirmed yesterday that the party would move the writ for the by-election within days of the Dail resuming on September 29th. Party sources said last night that the most likely date for the poll would be October 21st, the Thursday before the bank holiday weekend.
Mr Byrne is bitterly disappointed that he will not be selected to contest the by-election. However, if the matter went to a vote at a selection convention, he would not have the numbers to secure the nomination.
The party will be running two candidates in the constituency at the next general election, when the constituency will be a five-seater, and Mr Byrne has been given an assurance that he will be one of the two candidates on that occasion.
The by-election was mentioned by Mr Quinn at a special meeting of Labour's parliamentary party yesterday at which strategy for the new Dail session was discussed. A source said that the names of potential candidates were not mentioned, but the party leader had expressed optimism that, following "consultations", an agreed candidate would emerge.
A Bill to provide for an amendment to the Constitution to guarantee the social and economic rights of all citizens was approved at the meeting. The party also plans a private member's Bill to force the Government to hold a consultative plebiscite before a final decision on joining Partnership for Peace.
Mr Quinn emphasised that there were seriously disadvantaged sections of society which had failed to benefit from the Celtic Tiger. He said that the proposed constitutional amendment would ensure that all citizens were entitled to basic requirements such as healthcare, housing and proper nutrition. The Bill will be published before the Dail resumes.
Mr Quinn outlined a detailed social agenda which the party intends to pursue. He pledged to fight to abolish poverty; to work towards the elimination of homelessness; to work for improved facilities for the disabled and those with mental and physical handicaps; to seek free healthcare up to the age of 16 and for anyone aged over 66; and to fight illiteracy.
On the Green Paper on abortion, the party reiterated its support for legislation to tackle the problem and said it was against a referendum.
Mr Quinn expressed concern at plans by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, to further cut the number of places on Community Employment schemes. He said that the cutbacks would result in hardship for those who lost places and would seriously hit the voluntary and community organisations which were providing badly-needed services through these schemes. The meeting agreed to table a private member's Bill calling on the Government to reverse the cuts in CE places.