Public relations consultant Ronan Farren is to take up a new position co-ordinating the Labour Party’s communications strategy in January.
Mr Farren, a former Labour press officer who works for Q4 public relations in Dublin, is a son of Seán Farren, a former SDLP minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
He will liaise with deputy government press secretary Cathy Madden and Labour Party director of communications Dermot O’Gara.
The appointment, which will be funded by the party, was planned before Labour chairman Colm Keaveney lost the whip.
Mr Farren unsuccessfully contested the local elections as a Labour Party candidate in Dún Laoghaire in 2009.
