LABOUR LEADER IVANA Bacik has written to the leaders of the Social Democrats and the Green Party, suggesting they run an “agreed Left/Green woman candidate” in the upcoming Seanad byelection to replace Seán Kyne.

When asked why Sinn Féin and People Before Profit were excluded from this proposed Seanad candidate pact, a spokesperson for the Labour Party said: 

“As Ivana has consistently said since before GE24 – she wants to form a common platform on the left with the Green Party and the Social Democrats.”

While Labour may not wish to include Sinn Féin and People Before Profit, the Social Democrats do. 

A spokesperson for the Social Democrats told The Journal this afternoon that party leader Holly Cairns has written to People Before Profit and Sinn Féin to include them.

“Given that the voting pool is extremely small for the Seanad byelection, and the need to try to maximise the chances of a progressive candidate winning the seat, Holly Cairns has already written to the leaders of all of the parties on the Left – Sinn Féin, Labour, the Green Party and PBP/S – to suggest a meeting so they can agree a unity candidate,” the Social Democrats spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party told The Journal that Bacik has agreed to meet with Sinn Féin and People Before Profit.

Bacik said she is “conscious of the need to ensure stronger representation of women, especially now that the proportion of women elected to the Oireachtas has reduced even further” following the two byelections at the weekend. 

Social Democrat Daniel Ennis won the Dublin Central byeleciton to fill the seat vacated by Paschal Donohoe on Saturday, while Fine Gael senator Seán Kyne won the seat vacated by Catherine Connolly in Galway West on Sunday. 

Kyne’s election will trigger a byelection in the Seanad to fill his seat on the Cultural and Education panel.

Currently, women make up 25% of the Dáil and 45% of the Seanad. 

Speaking to reporters on the plinth of Leinster House on Tuesday, Bacik said: “It’s really disappointing that we’re going to see a reduction in the number and the proportion of women in the Dáil with this result.

“And I hope the government will bear that in mind when they look at filling the Seanad vacancy, because it’s really important that we ensure that our parliament, our Oireachtas is representative, and that we reflect the diversity of Ireland, we reflect the gender breakdown of Ireland.”

Speaking about Sinn Féin, Bacik said: “For us in the Labour Party, we have never accepted that Sinn Féin are a left-wing party.”

She said in particular on climate, tax and migration, Sinn Féin has pivoted to the right. 

A spokesperson for the Green Party told The Journal that Green leader Roderic O’Gorman will “have a conversation with Ivana and Holly and will of course propose Janet [Horner].”

Horner, a Dublin City Councillor for the Green Party finished third in the Dublin Central byelection over the weekend.