A meeting of Labour's influential national executive yesterday backed six candidates with the party having sufficient votes to ensure at least five of them are elected in next month's contest. All six are probable future D�il candidates, including White in Dublin South, Hannigan in Meath East and Brendan Ryan in Dublin North.

Among the others nominated were Eric Byrne, Phil Prendergast and newcomer Alan Kelly from Tipperary North.

Arthur Spring, a nephew of former Labour leader Dick Spring, sought a Seanad nomination but he received insufficient backing at yesterday's meeting.