The former Fianna Fβil TD Mr M.J. Nolan was elected as a senator yesterday in a by-election.
Mr Nolan, who lost his seat as a deputy for the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency in the 1997 general election, won by 116 to 92 over Mr Michael Fitzgerald, a Fine Gael councillor from Co Tipperary.
Mr Nolan took his seat in the Seanad yesterday after being presented to the Cathaoirleach, Mr Brian Mullolly.
The vacancy on the agricultural panel was caused by the election of Mr Tom Hayes as a TD in the Tipperary South by-election last June. The electorate for Seanad by-elections is made up of all TDs and senators, 210 of whom voted. Two failed to fill in their declaration of identity properly and their votes were disallowed.
Mr Nolan was a senator in 1982, after which he was elected to the Dβil, a seat he held until the last general election. He has been selected as a candidate for the next general election. Mr Nolan is an adviser to the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith.