# Labour Panel

The Labour Panel is one of five vocational panels which together elect 43 of the 60 members of Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (the legislature of Ireland). The Labour Panel elects eleven senators.

## Election

Article 18 of the Constitution of Ireland provides that 43 of the 60 senators are to be elected from five vocational panels. The Labour Panel is defined in Article 18.7.1° (iii) as "Labour, whether organised or unorganised". The Seanad returning officer maintains a list of nominating bodies for each of the five panels. Candidates may be nominated either by four members of the Oireachtas or by a nominating body. The electorate consists of city and county councillors and current members of the Oireachtas. As the Seanad election takes place after the election to the Dáil, the Oireachtas members are the members of the incoming Dáil and the outgoing Seanad. Eleven senators are elected on the Labour Panel, at least four of whom must have been nominated by Oireachtas members and at least four must have been nominated by nominating bodies.

## Senators

Senators for the Labour Panel :
| Key to parties  CnaT = Clann na Talmhan  CnaP = Clann na Poblachta  DL = Democratic Left  FF = Fianna Fáil  FG = Fine Gael  Lab = Labour  SF = Sinn Féin  SD = Social Democrats  Ind = Independent ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sen | Election | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) | Senator (Party) |
| 2nd | 1938 | | John Butler (Lab) | | James Tunney (Lab) | | Michael Conway (Ind) | | John Gaffney (Ind) | | Gilbert Hughes (Ind) | | Thomas McShea (Ind) | | David Walsh (Ind) | | Frederick Hawkins (Ind) | | James Johnston (Ind) | | Seán Hayes (FF) | | Seán Milroy (FG) |
| 3rd | 1938 | | John Butler (Lab) | | James Tunney (Lab) | | Seán Campbell (Lab) | | William Cummins (Lab) | | Thomas Foran (Lab) | | Patrick Hogan (Lab) | | Eamonn Lynch (Lab) | | Frederick Hawkins (Ind) | | James Johnston (Ind) | | Seán Hayes (FF) | | Peter Lynch (Ind) |
| 4th | 1943 | | John Butler (Lab) | | Thomas Hayden (Lab) | | Thomas Kennedy (Lab) | | Sam Kyle (Lab) | | Thomas Foran (Lab) | | Michael Colgan (Ind) | | Seán Ruane (Ind) | | Frederick Hawkins (Ind) | | James Johnston (Ind) | | Michael Smyth (Ind) | | Richard Mulcahy (FG) |
| 5th | 1944 | | John Butler (Lab) | | Thomas Hayden (Lab) | | Thomas Kennedy (Lab) | | Sam Kyle (Lab) | | James Tunney (Lab) | | John Meighan (CnaT) | | Seán Ruane (Ind) | | John Thomas Keane (Ind) | | James Johnston (Ind) | | Michael Smyth (Ind) | | Peter Lynch (Ind) |
| 5th | 1946 | | John Butler (Lab) | | Thomas Hayden (Lab) | | Thomas Kennedy (Lab) | | Sam Kyle (Lab) | | James Tunney (Lab) | | John Meighan (CnaT) | | Seán Ruane (Ind) | | Frederick Hawkins (Ind) | | James Johnston (Ind) | | Michael Smyth (Ind) | | Peter Lynch (Ind) |
| 6th | 1948 | | John Butler (Lab) | | Seán Campbell (Lab) | | J. T. O'Farrell (Lab) | | Richard Anthony (Ind) | | Michael Colgan (Ind) | | John Meighan (CnaT) | | Seán Ruane (Ind) | | Frederick Hawkins (Ind) | | Seán Hayes (FF) | | Michael Smyth (Ind) | | Andrew Fogarty (FF) |
| 7th | 1951 | | John Butler (Lab) | | William McMullen (Lab) | | Noel Hartnett (CnaP) | | Pádraig Ághas (Ind) | | Michael Colgan (Ind) | | John Meighan (CnaT) | | Seán Ruane (Ind) | | Frederick Hawkins (Ind) | | Seán Hayes (FF) | | Daniel O'Rourke (FF) | | Vincent McHugh (FG) |
| 8th | 1954 | | John Butler (Lab) | | Patrick Crowley (Lab) | | Dominick Murphy (Lab) | | Patrick Tierney (Lab) | | Richard Anthony (Ind) | | Frank Purcell (Ind) | | Seán Ruane (Ind) | | Frederick Hawkins (Ind) | | Seán Hayes (FF) | | Liam Kelly (Ind) | | Victor Carton (FG) |
| 9th | 1957 | | Joe Sheridan (Ind) | | Patrick Crowley (Lab) | | Dominick Murphy (Lab) | | Liam Ahern (FF) | | Frank Carter (FF) | | Frank Purcell (Ind) | | Harry Colley (FF) | | Eoin Ryan Snr (FF) | | Seán Hayes (FF) | | Ben O'Quigley (FG) | | Victor Carton (FG) |
| 9th | 1960 | | Joe Sheridan (Ind) | | Patrick Crowley (Lab) | | Dominick Murphy (Lab) | | Liam Ahern (FF) | | Frank Carter (FF) | | Edward Browne (Ind) | | Harry Colley (FF) | | Eoin Ryan Snr (FF) | | Seán Hayes (FF) | | Ben O'Quigley (FG) | | Victor Carton (FG) |
| 10th | 1961 | | John Butler (Lab) | | Patrick Crowley (Lab) | | Dominick Murphy (Lab) | | Seán Brosnahan (Ind) | | Seán Browne (FF) | | Joseph Farrell (FF) | | Mark Killilea Snr (FF) | | Michael Yeats (FF) | | Seán Hayes (FF) | | James Dooge (FG) | | Victor Carton (FG) |
| 11th | 1965 | | Séamus Dolan (FF) | | Patrick Crowley (Lab) | | Dominick Murphy (Lab) | | Seán Brosnahan (Ind) | | Seán Browne (FF) | | Joseph Farrell (FF) | | Mark Killilea Snr (FF) | | John Ormonde (FF) | | Vincent McHugh (FG) | | James Dooge (FG) | | Victor Carton (FG) |
| 12th | 1969 | | Jimmy Dunne (Lab) | | Fintan Kennedy (Lab) | | Evelyn Owens (Lab) | | Seán Brosnahan (Ind) | | Des Hanafin (FF) | | Joseph Farrell (FF) | | Mark Killilea Jnr (FF) | | Seán Walsh (FF) | | John Boland (FG) | | Michael Lyons (FG) | | William O'Brien (FG) |
| 13th | 1973 | | Jack Harte (Lab) | | Fintan Kennedy (Lab) | | Evelyn Owens (Lab) | | Seán Brosnahan (Ind) | | Des Hanafin (FF) | | Séamus Dolan (FF) | | Mark Killilea Jnr (FF) | | Bernard Markey (FG) | | John Boland (FG) | | Michael Lyons (FG) | | William O'Brien (FG) |
| 14th | 1977 | | Jack Harte (Lab) | | Fintan Kennedy (Lab) | | Joseph Dowling (FF) | | Brian Hillery (FF) | | Des Hanafin (FF) | | Séamus Dolan (FF) | | Tony Herbert (FF) | | Bernard Markey (FG) | | John Blennerhassett (FG) | | Michael Lyons (FG) | | Andy O'Brien (FG) |
| 15th | 1981 | | Jack Harte (Lab) | | Dan Kiely (FF) | | Brian Mullooly (FF) | | Brian Hillery (FF) | | Des Hanafin (FF) | | Séamus Dolan (FF) | | Toddie Byrne (FG) | | Donal Carey (FG) | | John Blennerhassett (FG) | | Maurice O'Connell (FG) | | Andy O'Brien (FG) |
| 16th | 1982 | | Jack Harte (Lab) | | Tony Herbert (FF) | | Brian Mullooly (FF) | | Donie Cassidy (FF) | | Des Hanafin (FF) | | Mark Killilea Jnr (FF) | | Toddie Byrne (FG) | | Monica Barnes (FG) | | Denis Cregan (FG) | | Maurice O'Connell (FG) | | Dick Dowling (FG) |
| 17th | 1983 | | Jack Harte (Lab) | | Brian Hillery (FF) | | Brian Mullooly (FF) | | Donie Cassidy (FF) | | Des Hanafin (FF) | | Mark Killilea Jnr (FF) | | Jim Higgins (FG) | | Larry McMahon (FG) | | Denis Cregan (FG) | | Peter Kelleher (FG) | | Andy O'Brien (FG) |
| 18th | 1987 | | Jack Harte (Lab) | | Brian Hillery (FF) | | Brian Mullooly (FF) | | Donie Cassidy (FF) | | Des Hanafin (FF) | | Don Lydon (FF) | | Dan Kiely (FF) | | Larry McMahon (FG) | | Denis Cregan (FG) | | Peter Kelleher (FG) | | Nuala Fennell (FG) |
| 19th | 1989 | | Jack Harte (Lab) | | Batt O'Keeffe (FF) | | Brian Mullooly (FF) | | Donie Cassidy (FF) | | Des Hanafin (FF) | | Don Lydon (FF) | | Dan Kiely (FF) | | Larry McMahon (FG) | | Mary Jackman (FG) | | Dan Neville (FG) | | Pól Ó Foighil (FG) |
| 20th | 1993 | | Seán Maloney (Lab) | | Joe Sherlock (DL) | | Brian Mullooly (FF) | | Donie Cassidy (FF) | | Frank Fahey (FF) | | Don Lydon (FF) | | Dan Kiely (FF) | | Bill Cotter (FG) | | Denis Cregan (FG) | | Dan Neville (FG) | | Jarlath McDonagh (FG) |
| 21st | 1997 | | Seán Ryan (Lab) | | Liam Fitzgerald (FF) | | Brian Mullooly (FF) | | Donie Cassidy (FF) | | Des Hanafin (FF) | | Don Lydon (FF) | | Dan Kiely (FF) | | Mary Jackman (FG) | | Denis Cregan (FG) | | Therese Ridge (FG) | | Jarlath McDonagh (FG) |
| 21st | 1998 | | John Cregan (FF) | | Liam Fitzgerald (FF) | | Brian Mullooly (FF) | | Donie Cassidy (FF) | | Des Hanafin (FF) | | Don Lydon (FF) | | Dan Kiely (FF) | | Mary Jackman (FG) | | Denis Cregan (FG) | | Therese Ridge (FG) | | Jarlath McDonagh (FG) |
| 22nd | 2002 | | Michael McCarthy (Lab) | | Liam Fitzgerald (FF) | | Brendan Daly (FF) | | Geraldine Feeney (FF) | | Terry Leyden (FF) | | Don Lydon (FF) | | John Hanafin (FF) | | Fergal Browne (FG) | | Maurice Cummins (FG) | | Michael Finucane (FG) | | Jim Higgins (FG) |
| 23rd | 2007 | | Michael McCarthy (Lab) | | Phil Prendergast (Lab) | | Donie Cassidy (FF) | | Geraldine Feeney (FF) | | Terry Leyden (FF) | | Ned O'Sullivan (FF) | | John Hanafin (FF) | | Jerry Buttimer (FG) | | Maurice Cummins (FG) | | Frances Fitzgerald (FG) | | Fidelma Healy Eames (FG) |
| 24th | 2011 | | David Cullinane (SF) | | Marie Moloney (Lab) | | John Whelan (Lab) | | Darragh O'Brien (FF) | | Terry Leyden (FF) | | Ned O'Sullivan (FF) | | Terry Brennan (FG) | | Cáit Keane (FG) | | Maurice Cummins (FG) | | Tony Mulcahy (FG) | | Fidelma Healy Eames (FG) |
| 25th | 2016 | | Paul Gavan (SF) | | Máire Devine (SF) | | Ged Nash (Lab) | | Gerard Craughwell (Ind) | | Terry Leyden (FF) | | Ned O'Sullivan (FF) | | Robbie Gallagher (FF) | | Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (FF) | | Jerry Buttimer (FG) | | Joe O'Reilly (FG) | | Neale Richmond (FG) |
| 26th | 2020 | | Paul Gavan (SF) | | Pauline O'Reilly (GP) | | Marie Sherlock (Lab) | | Gerard Craughwell (Ind) | | Pat Casey (FF) | | Ned O'Sullivan (FF) | | Robbie Gallagher (FF) | | Shane Cassells (FF) | | Jerry Buttimer (FG) | | Joe O'Reilly (FG) | | John Cummins (FG) |
| 27th | 2025 | | Maria McCormack (SF) | | Chris Andrews (SF) | | Nessa Cosgrove (Lab) | | Gerard Craughwell (Ind) | | Pat Casey (FF) | | Patricia Stephenson (SD) | | Robbie Gallagher (FF) | | Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (FF) | | Mark Duffy (FG) | | Joe O'Reilly (FG) | | Mike Kennelly (FG) |
Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns.

### Notes

* ↑ Died on 18 September 1947.
* ↑ Died on 22 May 1946.
* ↑ Elected to Seanad at a by-election on 24 July 1946m
* ↑ Died on 2 August 1956.
* ↑ Died on 27 February 1950.
* ↑ Resigned on 31 May 1950.
* ↑ Died on 22 June 1953.
* ↑ Died on 2 April 1960.
* ↑ Elected to Seanad at a by-election on 1 November 1960.
* ↑ Died on 23 February 1972.
* ↑ Resigned Fianna Fáil whip on 27 March 2007.
* ↑ Elected to the Seanad at a by-election on 23 June 1998.
* ↑ Fine Gael party whip removed on 16 July 2013.
* ↑ Suspended from Sinn Féin 19 March – 19 June 2018.
* 1 2 3 Elected to Dáil Éireann on 8 February 2020.

## List of nominating bodies

The following bodies are on the register of nominating bodies maintained by the Seanad Returning Officer for the Labour Panel:
* Irish Conference of Professional and Service Associations
* Irish Congress of Trade Unions