The Labour Party has selected Senator Alan Kelly as its candidate for the South constituency in next year's European Parliament elections.
He defeated Arthur Spring, nephew of former Tánaiste Dick Spring, by 276 votes to 144 at a selection convention in Cork.
Senator Kelly, from Tipperary North, said he has concerns about the future of the European Union and that Europe has settled for building a bureaucracy rather than a union of peoples.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore congratulated Mr Kelly. 'The Labour Party is fortunate to have had two great candidates for this election. I am assured that both of these men will act as standard bearers for the party for a long time to come,' Mr Gilmore said.
'I will be working with Alan in his bid to secure this seat for the Labour Party, just as I will be working with Arthur in rebuilding the organisation in Kerry so that we can ensure that Labour will have Dáil representation in [Kerry] after the next General Election.'
