Independent senator Mr Brendan Ryan has announced he is joining the Labour Party and will seek its nomination for the Munster constituency in the European elections.
Mr Ryan cited the merger of the Labour Party with Democratic Left in his statement. "It behoves us all to do everything possible to redirect our country on to a path of genuine justice, equality and inclusion, and only a strong, vibrant and confident party of the left can achieve all that is so desperately needed," he said. "That's why the coming together of the Labour Party and Democratic Left is an overdue development in Irish politics."