Academic and lawyer Maeve O’Rourke is planning to run in next month’s Seanad byelection to fill the seat vacated by Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne.
O’Rourke, who has built a national profile as an advocate and expert on issues relating to the Magdalene laundries, mother and baby homes, forced adoption and institutional abuse, is currently working as a senior lecturer at the School of Law in the University of Galway.
She will run as an Independent but has secured the backing of the Social Democrats and the Labour Party. She is expected to formally announce her candidacy for the byelection on Friday, once her eligibility to fill the seat on the cultural and educational panel has been confirmed by the Seanad returning officer.
People Before Profit-Solidarity is said to be considering backing O’Rourke, and the Green Party has been approached for support – although it previously signalled it may put forward their Dublin councillor Janet Horner, who performed well in the Dublin Central byelection this year, for the empty seat.
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O’Rourke, who was called to the Bar of Ireland this year, is also said to be seeking to meet with the Sinn Féin parliamentary party in an effort to enlist its support.
The electorate for the Seanad byelection will consist solely of the TDs and Senators, suggesting O’Rourke would likely need support from Government parties to be successful.
She said she was looking to meet all TDs and Senators across the political spectrum. She is being nominated by the Law Society, the Irish Dental Society and Comhlámh, the international development workers and volunteers organisation.
O’Rourke, who is married to Labour Party TD Ciarán Ahern and is a daughter of former RTÉ broadcaster Seán O’Rourke, told The Irish Times she was “delighted” to have secured the backing of the Social Democrats and Labour, pledging to continue her advocacy and research if elected.
She also said she wanted to work on the rights of older people in relation to care, as well as their rights and those of disabled people to live independently and on cementing academic links with Palestinian institutions.
