SENATOR KATHERINE ZAPPONE has announced that she will run for the Dáil as an independent candidate at the next election.
The decision means she will not be involved in the mooted political party involving independent TDs Catherine Murphy, Róisín Shortall and Stephen Donnelly despite reportedly holding talks with some of the trio in recent weeks.
Zappone will seek a Dáil seat in Dublin South-West where she actively campaigned in the same-sex marriage referendum.
She is the co-founder of An Cosán, a community education centre based in Tallaght.
In her statement today, she said: “It is time for our communities to have a strong voice in the Dáil which can deliver fairer policies and help families overcome the challenges they face on a daily basis.”
Zappone was appointed to the Seanad as one of Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s nominees in 2011 on the recommendation of then-tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.
She was prominent in the campaign to save the Seanad from abolition in 2013 and was also a strong advocate for a Yes vote in the recent marriage referendum.
Zappone proposed to her partner, Ann Louise Gilligan, live on television on the day the referendum passed.
https://vine.co/v/eqvxFv3EjOj
Zappone has been actively working in the constituency since last year.
Her Dáil bid comes as no surprise, but her decision to run as an independent will come as a blow to the proposed new political party which she had reportedly been involved with.
Dublin South-West is a five-seat constituency at the next election and Zappone’s presence will most likely pose a threat to Labour which has two sitting TDs, Pat Rabbitte and Eamonn Maloney.
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