Haughey may run for MEP seat

DEPUTY Seán Haughey confirmed yesterday that he is strongly considering giving up his Dáil seat and running for the European Parliament in next year’s elections.

However, there was confusion over whether or not the Taoiseach would back the former taoiseach's son.

Mr Haughey said the Taoiseach had encouraged him and Deputy Owen Ryan to run for Fianna Fáil in Dublin, but sources close to Deputy Ryan indicated last night that Mr Ahern wanted him to run as the sole Fianna Fáil candidate in Dublin. However, Mr Haughey said he would not make a final decision on the Euro race until the Boundary Commission has decided on the number of MEPs Dublin will get. If it is reduced to from a four to a three-seater, Mr Haughey said he would still fancy his chances. "But there are other considerations I will have to take into account. My wife is expecting our fourth baby in January and being in Brussels four days a week could be problematic," Mr Haughey told RTÉ.

He said his electorate would also prefer him to stay in Dublin North Central especially after topping the poll in last year's general election.

A row broke out between the Haughey family and the Taoiseach during the 2002 general election after he canvassed personally with one of the three Fianna Fáil candidates, Cllr Deirdre Heney.

Sean Haughey objected formally because he said it would give Cllr Heney an advantage and Charles Haughey reportedly accused the Taoiseach of trying to wipe out the Haughey name.

If Sean Haughey did become an MEP then there would be a vacancy in Dublin North Central and Cllr Heney, who polled over 5,500 votes last year, would be one of the favourites to take his seat.

Asked if his name had been a hindrance to his ministerial prospects within Fianna Fáil, Sean Haughey said: "After 16 years in the Dáil, I have reached the dizzy heights of vice-chairman of the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee."

Mr Haughey said he felt he had a greater role to play, but understood that the Taoiseach might be cautious about promoting him while the Moriarty Tribunal was ongoing. "It is a controversial name people either love or hate my father," he said.

The Haughey name could, however, be an advantage in the European elections because of the high recognition factor, he said.

On the sale of the €45 million Abbeville family estate, Mr Haughey said his parents were getting to a stage where it was difficult to upkeep because they were both approaching 78 years of age.

"My Dad has had prostrate cancer for several years. He was quite ill last Easter, but now he can move around quite well and he, in particular, lives for his grandchildren."

Abbeville was never an exclusive domain and was always open to local groups, said Mr Haughey.

He understood it would be developed as a golf course and the house retained.

On the various controversies surrounding his father, Sean Haughey said: "I never had a cross word with my father, I always had a good relationship with him. He would know if we were particularly upset about something, but it never really had an impact on family life."