Greens gain new senator

ON the same day that they lost a minister, the Greens gained a senator.

Dundalk-based councillor Mark Dearey was appointed to the Seanad yesterday to replace Déirdre de Búrca, who resigned from the Greens earlier this month. Ms de Búrca had been one of Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s 11 nominees to the Seanad. Because of this, it technically fell to Mr Cowen to announce a replacement.

He did so yesterday, appointing Mr Dearey to the upper house at the Greens’ request.