Fine Gael's attempt to win two seats in the Cork South-Central constituency was given a major boost yesterday when MEP Simon Coveney announced his intention to seek a nomination to run for the party at the next general election.
Mr Coveney is currently a TD for Cork South-Central as well as a member of the European Parliament. Should he secure re-election to the Dáil, he will be obliged to give up his European seat under legislation bringing an end to the so-called dual mandate.
Speaking at a press conference in Cork yesterday, Mr Coveney said he believed that he could make a more significant contribution to public life as part of a Fine Gael government after the next general election.
"This has been a very difficult decision for me to make, as I have had a hugely positive experience working in the European Parliament. By the time of the likely date of the next election, I will have spent three years in parliament, a time in which I believe my commitment and interest in the issues I have dealt with will be recognised by those who work with me. However, as with many things in life, this decision has come down to a judgment of priorities."
Mr Coveney insisted that Fine Gael was heading into an "exciting and crucial time", having been out of government for many years. He added that there was a real and genuine prospect of Fine Gael being elected to government with Enda Kenny as taoiseach.
Mr Coveney's place on the Fine Gael ticket in Cork South-Central would, according to some analysts, strengthen the party's chances of winning two seats there.
Mr Coveney is Fine Gael's only TD in the five-seat constituency. The party's other main player there is the current Lord Mayor of Cork and former TD, Deirdre Clune, who will be trying to regain the Dáil seat she lost in 2002. Mr Coveney and Ms Clune may be joined on the ticket by local councillor Jerry Buttimer, who polled almost 2,000 votes in the 2004 local elections.