Former Green councillor joins Labour Party

Former Green Party councillor Bronwen Maher has joined the Labour Party.

Announcing her decision this morning, Ms Maher, said she believed the party had the right policies to achieve the goal of returning this country to work while promoting sustainable growth

Ms Maher, who had been a member of the Greens for 20 years and a councillor since 2004 resigned from the party in January saying that in government it had become a “centrist lifestyle-lite Green Party” with which she no longer felt a connection.

Ms Maher lost her Dublin City council seat in the June elections.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore welcomed Ms Maher's decision to join the party saying that she would be a "major asset."

Ms Maher is to be appointed as co-chair of Labour's Environment and Sustainability Policy Group which will be responsible for coordinating Labour polices in the run-up to the next General Election.

Speaking today she said she was delighted to be given the opportunity to use her knowledge of environmental issues to inform Labour policy.

"It has always been my wish to remain politically active and this decision is the right fit for me as an environmentalist, community and social justice campaigner and I believe it is in the best interests of the constituency I have served for over 20 years," said Ms Maher.