Hayes has not decided on MEP attempt

Junior finance minister Brian Hayes has insisted he will not be bounced into standing for Fine Gael in the European elections.

He insists that he has not finally made up his mind about whether to fight the Dublin constituency in the June poll which is expected to see heavy Coalition losses.

Speculation over the intentions of Mr Hayes have sparked intense manoeuvring within Fine Gael with claims the leadership have tried to “smoke out” his candidacy with a whispering campaign that chief whip Paul Kehoe may contest the seat.