Eric Joseph Byrne (born 21 April 1947) is an Irish former Labour Party politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-Central constituency from 1989 to 1992, 1994 to 1997 and 2011 to 2016.

Although the Labour Party and the Democratic Left merged in 1999, he was not selected to contest the Dublin South-Central by-election which followed Pat Upton's death later that year.

Along with Mary Upton, he contested the Dublin South-Central constituency at the 2007 general election advocating a Labour Party/Fine Gael government but missed the final seat by 69 votes.

During ministers questions, O'Brien had criticised Tánaiste Joan Burton over homelessness in Ireland, citing the experiences of his brother who was a recovering heroin addict.

The Irish Times journalist Miriam Lord criticized Byrne, remarking that "You sense the relief rising in the chamber.