Eric Byrne

Who is Eric Byrne?

Eric Byrne is an Irish Labour Party politician and is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South–Central constituency. He was formerly a member of Official Sinn Féin, the Workers' Party and Democratic Left.

Born in Dublin, he was educated at Synge Street CBS school and the Bolton Street College of Technology. A carpenter before entering politics, Byrne stood unsuccessfully for election to Dáil Éireann as a Workers' Party candidate for Dublin Rathmines West at the 1977 general election and Dublin South–Central at the 1981, February 1982, November 1982 and 1987 general elections.

He was elected in 1985 as a Workers' Party member of Dublin City Council for Crumlin/Kimmage area, and was re-elected at subsequent local elections until 2011, where he was forced to resign his seat due to dual mandate. He was finally elected at the 1989 general election. He joined with Workers' Party members who formed Democratic Left in 1992. He unexpectedly lost his seat at the 1992 general election; Labour's Pat Upton was unexpectedly returned on the first count, with Byrne finally losing the last seat to Fianna Fáil's Ben Briscoe by five votes after a marathon 10-day count.

He was elected to the 27th Dáil at a by-election on 9 June 1994 following the resignation of long-serving Fianna Fáil TD John O'Connell. Byrne was a backbench supporter of the 'Rainbow' government led by Fine Gael's John Bruton.