Hanafin not ruling out Seanad run

MINISTER FOR Tourism Mary Hanafin has said she has not ruled out seeking a seat in the forthcoming Seanad election.

Speaking as she performed what she said was her last official engagement by attending the Irish Hotel Federation’s annual conference yesterday, Ms Hanafin said she felt somewhat constrained in that her brother John was a sitting Senator on the Labour panel.

Asked if she had plans for the future she said: “No I actually don’t know yet. But, you know, there is public service certainly in my bones. Politics is in my blood. I don’t know yet.

“My brother is in the Senate, you see, John is on the Labour panel. It is a small Senate.”