Eric Byrne

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Eric Byrne (born 1st April 1947) is an Irish Labour Party politician and former Teachta Dála (TD). He was formerly a member of Workers' Party and the Democratic Left.

A carpenter before entering politics, Byrne stood unsuccessfully for election to Dáil Éireann as a Workers' Party candidate for Dublin South Central in the 1977, 1981, February 1982, November 1982 and 1987 general elections. He was finally elected in the 1989 election. He joined the breakaway Democratic Left party and he lost his seat in the 1992 general election to Labour's Pat Upton. He was returned to the 27th Dáil at a by-election on 9th June 1994 following the resignation of long-serving Fianna Fáil TD John O'Connell (who had previously been a Labour TD for the same constituency).

Byrne lost his seat again at the 1997 general election, but although Labour and the Democratic Left had merged in 1999, Upton's sister Mary was selected to contest the by-election after Pat Upton's death.

Byrne contested the 2002 general election on the Labour ticket as Mary Upton's running-mate, but was unsuccessful. However, he had been elected in 1999 as a Labour member of Dublin City Council for Kimmage, and was re-elected in the 2004 local elections.