Democratic Left

Political party in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Began when a number of people, including six Teachta Dála (TDs - members of Dáil Éiraeann), broke away from the Workers Party (WP) in February 1992. The WP leader Prionsias De Rossa was one of the six TDs to form DL. The only other TD, Tomás Mac Giolla, stayed with the WP. Initially the party was know as New Agenda but changed its name to Democratic Left in March 1992. It is claimed that Democratic Left has a stronger following in the Republic of Ireland than in Northern Ireland. In the 1992 Dáil election the DL lost two seats and the WP lost the seat held by Tomás Mac Giolla. During 1999 DL merged with the Irish Labour Party (based in the Republic of Ireland) and the joint party became The Labour Party.