Eamon Ryan wants Saoirse McHugh to run for Greens in Seanad by-election

The Green party hierarchy has set its sights on running European elections candidate, Saoirse McHugh, in a Seanad by-election to replace newly-elected party MEP Grace O'Sullivan in the upper house.

The Irish Examiner has learned that party leader Eamon Ryan wants to run Ms McHugh in any Seanad race after the Oireachtas summer recess ends in September, saying she is the future of the party.