Entrepreneur Sean Melly is to run for the Seanad on a pro-business and pro-education platform.
Mr Melly currently leads Powerscourt Capital Partners which invests in early stage technology companies. He is also chairman of Trinity’s Business School.
He previously ran telecoms company eTel, which was sold to Telekom Austria and he was also CEO of TCL Telecom, which was bought by Worldcom (now Verizon).
Mr Melly is to run on the Trinity panel. He says the role of the university and other colleges is threatened by drastic cuts in state funding.
He also says the Seanad needs more experienced business people and he hopes to create an environment for businesses to start and flourish.
Mr Melly says he wants to see the Seanad reformed so it is made more effective and he wants to empower all Irish citizens to elect senators.
Other candidates running on the Trinity panel include outgoing Senators Ivana Bacik, Sean Barrett, David Norris, and Averil Power.
Security analyst Tom Clonan and barrister Maeve Cox are also candidates on the Trinity panel.
The remaining candidates are Sabina Brennan, Oisin Loughlin, Edward Davitt, Eoin Meehan, William Priestly, Anthony Staines, Ethna Tinney, and Lynn Ruane.
