The Labour Party is to contest two Seanad seats left vacant by the death last year of Mr Paddy McGowan and the resignation of Mr Pat Gallagher.
The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said Mr Declan Bree and Mr Sean Maloney would contest the seats.
He also said the party's first parliamentary party meeting of the year would be held in Sligo on January 19th, to promote the party's profile in the west and to highlight the Government's failure to deliver on its promises to the regions.
The meeting will discuss the party's approach to the new Dail term, outline issues affecting the north-western region and how national problems in health, education, housing and agriculture are affecting the west.
Gael. The return to the west, however, has been miserable. "Labour is determined to prove to the people of the west that they have an alternative with national clout and that Labour is it," Mr Quinn said.
