The Progressive Democrats senator Ms Kate Walsh has announced her intention to contest the upcoming by-election in North Kildare.
Ms Walsh polled over 12 per cent of the vote in North Kildare at the 2002 general election but was eliminated on the third count.
She was subsequently one of four Progressive Democrat appointees to the current Seanad where she has served as the party's spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs for the past two years.
In the 1999 local elections Walsh topped the poll in North Kildare with two and a half quotas but was forced to resign her seat in summer 2003 following the abolition of the dual mandate.
Ms Walsh has been Mayor of Celbridge for over 20 years and is a noted fund-raiser in her local area.
She founded and organises the annual Black & White Ball, which has raised over half a million euros for senior citizens' groups since it was founded 22 years ago.