Mairead McGuinness to contest General Election

Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness is to contest the General Election.

The former agriculture journalist, who was elected to the European Parliament in 2004, will stand as a candidate in the four-seat Louth constituency, it was announced this afternoon.

Fine Gael front bencher Fergus O'Dowd currently holds a seat for the party in Louth where Fianna Fáil holds two seats and Sinn Féin one.

Mairead Mc Guinness recently turned down a request from the party to stand in Kildare South amid speculation that she might stand in the new Meath West constituency.

If elected to the Dáil in the General Election, Ms McGuinness must resign from the European Parliament, where she would be replaced by Louth councillor Micheal O'Dowd, a brother of Deputy Fergus O'Dowd.