He stood again for election to Seanad Éireann in 1997, nominated by Comhaltas rather than by Fianna Fáil,[4] and was elected to the 21st Seanad. He was re-elected in 2002 to the 22nd Seanad and in 2007 to the 23rd Seanad.[2]
In June 2010, Ó Murchú admitted that he stayed in CCE headquarters for €50 a night bed and breakfast while attending Leinster House, but claimed a €126 overnight allowance. On 7 July 2010 he resigned the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party whip, along with John Hanafin and Jim Walsh, in protest at the Civil Partnership bill.[5] He rejoined the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on 23 November 2010.[6]
He was re-elected to the 24th Seanad in 2011, despite pressure on him to resign in order to make way for newer Fianna Fáil candidates; this was a strategy devised by party leader Micheál Martin in an attempt to recover from the party's disastrous result at the 2011 general election. Ó Murchú's re-election was credited to support from Sinn Féin voters who had not contested the panel.
On 15 September 2011, at a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, the issue of the 2011 presidential election was raised. Unexpectedly, Ó Murchú sought to run as an independent candidate.[7] This was widely seen as a challenge to the authority of Micheál Martin.[8] The extended meeting broke up without agreement.[7] The parliamentary party met again on 20 September. Ó Murchú withdrew his request for a nomination and a motion was passed that the party's Oireachtas members would not nominate or endorse any candidate.
In 2012, Ó Murchú was listed as having the worst attendance record of any Senator, having missed 19 of 61 votes.[9] The Irish Independent newspaper later published an apology, because Ó Murchú's absence was owing to his wife's illness while on a business trip to the United States of America.[10]
He was the Fianna Fáil Seanad spokesperson on Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs.
References
^"Labhrás Ó Murchú". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
^ ab"Labhrás Ó Murchú". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2008.
^"Comhaltas newsletter for 9/96". Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Burke-Curry-Seery Branch. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
