A leading campaigner against the building of a gas refinery and pipeline in north Co Mayo today confirmed his candidature for the Seanad.
Dr Mark Garavan, spokesman for the Shell-to-Sea campaign, which objects to the Shell-led consortium's Corrib gas project, made the announcement this morning.
Dr Mark Garavan
He intends to seek one of the three National University of Ireland (NUI) Seanad seats and will be standing as an independent.
He said: "I believe there are many in modern Ireland disturbed and disillusioned by the failure of our major political parties to create a society of decency and standards where all citizens can live their lives with respect and dignity.
"We need a democracy that works. We need a democracy where good ideas and argument win out over vested interests."
While he will campaign on the Corrib project, he said the controversy raises broader issues about "democratic engagement with communities, the management of the State's natural resources and the failure to plan for our future energy requirements".
Campaigners were dealt their latest setback two weeks ago when the Envornmental Protection Agency granted a licence to Shell for further construction work on the project. They say the pollution prevention and control works are a danger to the local water supply.
Graduates of the four NUI colleges, UCD, UCC, NUIG and Maynooth, are eligible to vote along with graduates of the NUI recognised colleges: Royal College of Surgeon, National College of Art and Design, Shannon College of Hotel Management and the Milltown Institute.
Dr Garavan obtained his degree and PhD at UCG and currently lectures in sociology at GMIT, Castlebar.
The sitting senators are former general gecretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation,
Joe O'Toole, businessman Fergal Quinn and Brendan Ryan of the Labour Party.
Another objector the Corrib project, campaigner Rory Hearne, declared last year his intention to run in the general for the Dail in Dublin South East.