European election candidate selections due today

Fianna Fáil is to choose candidates to run in the June European elections for the southern area later today.

Delegates from Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford will meet to select two candidates to contest the new three-seater constituency.

Outgoing MEPs Brian Crowley and Gerard Collins are both seeking the nomination.

Fine Gael will field a new candidate in the constituency, formerly known as Munster.

The party's sitting MEP John Cushnahan has decided not to stand this time round.

However, he has said he is confident that Fine Gael will retain its seat.