Cowen to seek Fianna Fáil nomination to run in Midlands-North West constituency

LAOIS-OFFALY TD Barry Cowen has confirmed he will seek a Fianna Fáil nomination to run in next year’s European elections. If selected, he will run in the Midlands-North-West constituency where outgoing MEP’s include Sligo’s Chris McManus. “Reinstating a seat or seats here 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,” he said.

Cowen, a former agriculture minister, ended weeks of speculation about his European ambitions by confirming to his local organisation on Monday night that he plans to put his name forward for selection as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the Midland North West constituency. Mr Cowen’s constituency, Laois-Offaly, has been added to the vast European Parliament constituency which will now be a five-seater in next June’s elections. If nominated by the party and then elected to Europe next year, Mr Cowen's exit from domestic politics will bring an end to five decades of

Cowens representing the Offaly or Laois-Offaly constituencies in the Dáil following his brother Brian and his late father Ber Cowen who was first elected in 1969.

In a statement following his announcement to his local organisation on Monday night, Mr Cowen said: “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.