Kilkenny councillor launches bid for seat in the Seanad

A veteran Kilkenny county councillor is back on the campaign trail - this time seeking a seat in Seanad Eireann.

Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick, who is elected in the Castlecomer municipal district, is standing on the agricultural panel for the Seanad.

The agricultural panel is one of five vocational panels which together elect 43 of the 60 members of the Seanad.
The agricultural panel elects 11 senators and they are voted for by city and county councillors as well as sitting members of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Dáil and Seanad).

Although the Kilkenny councillor is already canvassing the outcome of the Seanad election will not be known until next month.
Nominations for the Seanad election close on December 31. The Seanad Returning Officer will sit for the completion of the panels on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Ballot papers will be issued on Wednesday, January 15 and the poll will close at 11am on Thursday, January 30.

Cllr Fitzpatrick has been a member of Kilkenny County Council for 15 years, topping the poll on several occasions in the local elections. He was County Council Cathaoirleach in the 2022-23 term.

In 2023 Cllr Fitzpatrick became President of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG), a representative body for councillors, and was instrumental in achieving improvements in remuneration and entitlement for councillors, including a security allowance.

With a background in farming and his experience in local and national politics, Cllr Fitzpatrick says he has been a long-time advocate for councillors and is committed to the further enhancement of conditions for them, as well as the reform of local government.