A total of 17 candidates are to compete in the upcoming Seanad by-election, with the nomination process closing today.
The poll for the Seanad by-election to fill the vacancy caused by Labour Senator Ivana Bacik’s election to the Dáil will close on 30 March.
Bacik won a seat in the Dáil last July in the Dublin Bay South constituency by-election.
Meanwhile, a number of Dubliners are among the 17 candidates vying for the Trinity seat.
They include:
- Hazel Chu, the former Lord Mayor of Dublin recently announced that she is running in the election. Film director Lenny Abrahamson, TV producer Maia Dunphy and activist Rory O’Neill, also known as Panti Bliss – were among 10 signatories to the Green Party councillor’s nomination papers The Green Party executive chose not to select a candidate for the byelection caused by former Labour Party Senator Ivana Bacik’s election to the Dáil last year.
- Tom Clonan, a whistleblower on sexual violence within the Defence Forces, a disability advocate, and columnist.
- Ray Bassett , a former Irish Ambassador to Canada, Jamaica and Bahamas. He was born in Dublin and he has held senior positions within the Irish Diplomatic Service as Assistant Secretary-General, including Ambassador to Canada, Jamaica and the Bahamas. He was Head of the Irish Consular Service for five years and served as the Irish Government Representative in Belfast.
Ursula Quill , PHD student in the Trinity School of Law
Maureen Gaffney , a psychologist, consultant, and public speaker. Dr Gaffney holds her doctorate in psychology from Trinity College where she also served as Trinity’s Director of the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology. She is a leading national commentator and advocate in the field of mental health and well-being.
- Hugo MacNeill a former Irish Rugby international player and chairman of the British-Irish Association. Mr MacNeill was a famous rugby player in the 1980s, playing for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He was also one of the bosses in Ireland’s Goldman Sachs division, working with them for over 30 years.
- Michael McDermott , PhD candidate at Trinity.
- Sadhbh O’Neill , a former Green Party councillor and lecturer in climate policy and politics at DCU's School of Law and Government.
- Gisèle Scanlon , Trinity Graduate Students’ Union President.
- Catherine Stocker , a Social Democrat councillor in North Dublin.
Ballot papers will be issued by registered post to electors registered on 25 February, 2022.
Over 67,000 Trinity graduates are registered to vote.
This will be the first bye-election for the University of Dublin constituency since 1979.
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