Shane Ross To Stand In Election

Senator Shane Ross has announced that he will contest the election as an Independent candidate in the Dublin South constituency.

He's been a Senator since 1981, elected by the Trinity College constituency.

Mr Ross previously stood as a candidate for Fine Gael in Wicklow in 1992, but was not successful.

However, his analysis of the economic crisis has made him a popular figure, and his book

"The Bankers" was one of the best sellers in Ireland in 2010. Shane Ross is also business editor of the Sunday Independent newspaper.

Fine Gael made attempts last week to recruit him as a candidate for the party, but he told them that he would only run for election as an independent.

The seat he is contesting is the one formerly held by George Lee, who resigned in February.

The constituency is a five-seater that has two Fine Gael TDs, and is also the base of Green minister Eamon Ryan.