Cowen and SF clash in Ryan battle

THE election campaign heated up yesterday with Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Sinn Féin getting into a war of words over the crucial European Parliament race in Dublin.

At a press conference yesterday morning Mr Cowen urged people not to vote for Sinn Féin or the Socialist Party, both of which oppose the Lisbon treaty.

Sitting Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan is locked in a battle with Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald and the Socialist Party’s Joe Higgins for the third and final seat in Dublin.