Former PD recruited by Labour

A former Progressive Democrats TD has become the Labour Party’s latest recruit, it was announced today.

Mae Sexton is the party’s third new member in the last two months, following in the footsteps of ex-Independent Mayo TD Jerry Crowley, who was signed up last week, and poll-topping Roscommon councillor John Kelly who joined in February.

A spokeswoman for the Labour Party said Ms Sexton’s time as a PD TD between 2002 and 2007 was “a different era”.

Leader Eamon Gilmore described Ms Sexton as an effective and energetic representative during her five-year tenure in the Dail serving Co Longford.

“Mae Sexton is one of the most respected and admired public representatives in Co Longford,” Mr Gilmore said.

“She has been involved in local politics since 1991 and has had a long and impressive track record as a campaigner on a range of community issues in Longford.

“She was an effective and energetic representative for the county in the Dáil between 2002 and 2007, having been successful in delivering local facilities and inward industrial investment for the county.”

Ms Sexton said she was flattered to have been chosen by Labour, and added that she looked forward to helping Mr Gilmore become Taoiseach.

She said the situation had changed very dramatically since she was elected as a PD TD in 2002, and claimed different circumstances and different problems required a different set of responses.

“His (Eamon Gilmore) courage in saying what needs to be said in a clear and determined way gives me a sense of hope and the prospect of the change necessary to restore the confidence of the people of Ireland who are crying out for leadership, fairness, transparency and direction from the political system,” Ms Sexton said.

Ms Sexton first became active in politics in 1991 and was repeatedly re-elected to both county and town Councils until she took up her Dáil seat in 2002.

She regained both local authority seats when she stood in the 2009 elections.