Farmer seeks to be on Fianna Fáil ticket for Europe

A farmer who started the campaign to have farmers compensated for loss of income due to a ban on agricultural activity in hen harrier conservation areas has declared his interest in running as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the next European Parliament elections.

Jason Fitzgerald hopes to stand in the four-seat Ireland South constituency in 2019, but stressed that he is not targeting the seat of sitting MEP Brian Crowley, who has been unable to attend parliament since 2014 due to ill health. He is instead hoping to take a second seat for Fianna Fáil.

Mr Fitzgerald made his pitch at Fianna Fáil’s Cork North West AGM on Monday.