Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has confirmed he will run for the European Parliament in the next election.
If elected, the Laois-Offaly TD would bring an end to five decades of Cowens' representing their local area in the Dáil. The Independent reports the former Agriculture Minister confirmed to his local organisation on Monday night he plans to put his name forward in the Midland North West constituency.
"At a special meeting of the Fianna Fáil organisation in Offaly on Monday night, I notified my colleagues that I plan to put my name forward for selection as a candidate for the European Elections next June. With the addition of Laois-Offaly into the Midlands-North-West constituency, I feel now is the right time for me to try and deliver for my constituency at a European level, having been a councillor for 20 years and a TD for 12 years."
"I will be focused on the ongoing transition led by the EU towards sustainability across many sectors key to our success as an economy - food and farming, energy and enterprise, and making sure Irish views and interests are reflected in EU policies. Reinstating a seat or seats in this constituency will be important for the party and I believe I can deliver that having successfully contested many elections with a strong network and family history of pro-European public service."
