Gormley expected to name Dearey for Seanad

GREEN PARTY leader John Gormley is widely expected to recommend Mark Dearey, who sits on Louth County Council and Dundalk Town Council, as Déirdre de Búrca’s replacement in the Seanad shortly.

A number of party sources indicated Mr Dearey, who contested the 2007 general election unsuccessfully, was the front runner, although Mr Dearey said he could not confirm that this was the case.

“I suspect the list is fairly short. I also suspect I’m on it, but you can tempt fate in these matters. I haven’t heard anything but informed speculation that it might be myself,” he said.

Former MEP Nuala Ahern’s name has also been mentioned in connection with the post. Ms Ahern, who has remained closely associated with the party since she stood down as Green MEP for Leinster in 2004, would not be drawn on whether or not she was interested in the position.

“I’m concerned that we replace Déirdre promptly and that we will pick a good person for the Seanad, and I’m sure that we will. The quality of the person is of course vital. We need team players.”

Other names said to have been considered include the Green’s other county councillors, Brian Meaney of Clare and mayor of Kilkenny, Malcolm Noonan.

There is some concern in the party about gender balance among the party’s elected representatives following the departure of Ms de Búrca. Carlow-Kilkenny deputy Mary White is the only woman in the eight-person parliamentary party of six TDs and two Senators.

Ms de Búrca’s resignation from the Upper House 10 days ago has left a vacancy for a Taoiseach’s nominee. Mr Gormley, who is consulting party members on the matter, is expected to recommend the name of the potential senator to Taoiseach Brian Cowen shortly.

There appears to be an understanding between Fianna Fáil and the Greens in the Seanad that Government vacancies will be filled by members of the same party, while both parties will take turns with vacancies that arise from other parties or independents.

Last December, the party’s former mayor of Galway Niall Ó Brolcháin won the Seanad byelection caused by the election of Labour’s Alan Kelly to the European Parliament in June.