Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has confirmed she will not attempt to contest the general election in the Dún Laoghaire constituency, where she was former tánaiste Eamon Gilmore's running mate in 2011.

Ms Bacik, a barrister and academic, said her family circumstances had changed when asked by The Irish Times why she had ruled herself out of her party’s upcoming selection convention.

“I’m going to stay in my own area, Dublin Bay South. I won’t contest in Dún Laoghaire. We’ll see what happens anywhere else,” she said.

“My family circumstances have changed. I’ve two kids. We are very settled in our area.”

Nominations for Labour's selection convention closed at noon on Tuesday. The party's Senator in the constituency, Aideen Hayden, and two of its three councillors, Deirdre Kingston and Carrie Smyth, have put their names forward.

A party activist David Traynor has also put his name forward.

The new constituency of Dublin Bay South is represented by Labour's Kevin Humphreys, Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection and former minister Ruairí Quinn. Mr Quinn has confirmed he will not contest the next general election.

Ms Bacik secured 5,749 first-preference votes in Dún Laoghaire the 2011 general election, putting her in fifth place after the first count. Mr Gilmore topped the poll and was elected on the first count.

Fine Gael's Sean Barrett and his running mate Mary Mitchell O'Connor were also elected, along with Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit.

Dún Laoghaire will remain a four-seat constituency, but Mr Barrett is entitled to return to the Dáil because of his current position as Ceann Comhairle.

Ms Mitchell O'Connor was selected to run for Fine Gael at a convention on Monday night, having faced a contest from Councillors Barry Ward and Maria Bailey.

Ms Bacik was first elected to the Seanad by Trinity College Dublin graduates in 2007.

She stood unsuccessfully in the 2009 byelection in Dublin Central and the 2004 European Parliament elections.