Paul Gavan pulls out of Seanad race after left off Sinn Féin’s list of hopefuls

It comes after Sinn Féin defended a decision to leave Mr Gavan and another party candidate off a list of its Seanad hopefuls by saying it wanted to elect the strongest team possible.

Mr Gavan and councillor Daithí Doolan were nominated for the Seanad Labour Panel through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

However, in a social media post announcing Sinn Féin’s candidates for the Seanad elections yesterday, former TD Chris Andrews and Laois-based representative Maria McCormack were listed and pictured as the party’s only hopefuls for the Labour Panel.

The Labour Panel elects 11 senators, at least four of whom must come from nominations through the Oireachtas and at least four through nominating bodies like ICTU.

Asked about the omission of Mr Doolan and Mr Gavan, the Sinn Féin press office drew a distinction between candidates put forward by the party and those nominated through external bodies.

It confirmed Mr Doolan and Mr Gavan had independently received nominations…