Kirk declares plan for election race

THE chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party Seamus Kirk yesterday confirmed his intention to contest the European elections in the East constituency.

The Louth deputy told the Irish Examiner that he will be putting his name forward for nomination at his party’s convention to be held on January 25.

Mr Kirk (58) is the first high-profile TD to declare himself in the race in the four-seat constituency, where the two sitting Fianna Fáil MEPs, Jim Fitzsimons and Liam Hyland are retiring after the next election.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is determined to retain the party’s two seats in the constituency and to that end is keen to field well-known and established candidates, including junior ministers.

If Mr Kirk succeeds in winning the nomination in the northern part of the constituency, the second candidate is likely to be one of two junior ministers, John Browne from Wexford and Liam Aylward from Kilkenny.

Mr Aylward has not yet given any indication as to his intentions. Mr Browne said yesterday he would be meeting his own party in Wexford next Sunday to discuss his possible candidacy. He said he was mindful of the desire from party headquarters for a junior minister to run but would not reach a decision until next Sunday.

Westmeath TD Donie Cassidy, who will be adversely affected if proposed constituency changes are implemented, has not ruled himself out. It is also believed that soundings were made with Wicklow Euro minister Dick Roche with a view to running should both Mr Browne and Mr Aylward rule themselves out.

In North-West, where Fianna Fail have high hopes of taking two of the three seats, it is likely that Sligo Senator Mark McSharry will run if junior minister Jim McDaid rules himself out. Fianna Fáil sources said Dr McDaid has been inclining against seeking a nomination recently.

While there have been strong rumblings junior minister Frank Fahey may seek a nomination, the party’s sitting MEP Seán Ó Neachtain is also based in Mr Fahey’s constituency. If the party chooses to run only two candidates, it is certain they will come from either side of the constituency.