Ciara Conway enters the race for deputy leadership role

The Waterford TD Ciara Conway is set to join three other Munster-based candidates to contest the deputy leadership of the Labour Party, but will not take a ministerial position if elected.

She announced her decision ahead of today’s 12pm deadline for nominations, promising to be the link between the party’s grassroots members and backbench TDs, and senior people at cabinet.

She is up against two junior ministers — North Tipperary’s Alan Kelly and Cork East’s Seán Sherlock — and Michael McCarthy, chairman of the Oireachtas Environment Committee.