Ireland's Midlands North-West to get extra European Parliament seat
(Left to right) Simon Coveney, Leo Varadkar and Mairead McGuinness. In Midlands North-West, Fine Gael officials were understood to he considering dropping Colm Markey off the ticket to allow for room for Ms McGuinness, the outgoing European Commissioner. File picture
Ireland will have an extra member of the European Parliament amid a rejig of constituencies.
It was confirmed in September that Ireland would get an extra MEP, prompting a review by the Electoral Commission, which has opted to retain the existing constituencies, but add Laois and Offaly to Midlands North-West and bestow the extra seat on that region.
That means that Ireland South and Midlands North-West will have five seats apiece, while Dublin will have four. The last week reported that in Dublin, Fine Gael is eyeing a "dream ticket" of former TDs Noel Rock and Kate O'Connell, but junior education minister Josepha Madigan is also believed to be interested in a run.
In Midlands North-West, Fine Gael officials were understood to he considering dropping Colm Markey off the ticket to allow for room for Mairead McGuinness, the outgoing European Commissioner. Ms McGuiness is seen as a potential candidate for the Presidency in 2025, however, and sources close to Mr Markey say that he is "100%" running again.
In Ireland South, Fine Gael will lose sitting MEP Deirdre Clune, but will retain Sean Kelly. Sitting TD Colm Burke could be interested in a return to Brussels, while other potential names that have been touted are the party's Cork-based senators Jerry Buttimer, who is the Cathaoirleach of the upper house, and Tim Lombard.
Tipperary senator Garret Ahearn and Waterford-based senator John Cummins could also run. A party source said that it is "highly possible" that the party seeks a high-profile candidate from outside politics in a bid to keep the seat.
For Fianna Fáil, sitting TD Barry Cowen and senator Lisa Chambers running together in Midlands North-West is described by party sources as the "dream team", with two seats seen as possible given the extra seat. The party is aiming to retain Barry Andrews' seat in Dublin and Billy Kelleher's in Ireland South.
The running of sitting TDs is said by one government source to be a cause for concern, given the potential to trigger by-elections. The loss of four such by-elections after the 2019 Europeans was a major blow for Leo Varadkar, but he said on Sunday that his concern is ensuring the right candidate run and their current role is irrelevant.
Sinn Féin's Dublin candidate is likely to come from the Seanad, with both Lynn Boylan or Fintan Warfield touted. Party sources said that Ms Boylan is seen as someone who would take a seat in a Dáil election, likely in Dublin South West. In Ireland South, a number of party sources said that senator Paul Gavan, from Limerick, could run.
