FIANNA FÁIL Meath TD Thomas Byrne is to stand for the party in the European Parliament elections in the East constituency, but the party is still struggling to find a candidate in the North West.
Mr Byrne initially offered to run alongside outgoing MEP, Liam Aylward, who is based in Kilkenny, but then had second thoughts. He eventually accepted the challenge following pressure from Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.
Nominations for the June 5th election close on Monday, and Fianna Fáil needed to have a candidate at the northern end of the constituency to act as a “sweeper” to bring second preferences to Mr Aylward.
Outgoing North West MEP, Seán Ó Neachtain’s decision yesterday to direct implicit criticism at the party over its failure to find a replacement for him has been greeted with quiet fury in some parts of the organisation. Speaking from Strasbourg, Mr Ó Neachtain, who dropped out of the race claiming health problems two weeks after he was nominated to run again, said a decision was needed “and soon”.
So far, Fianna Fáil has struggled to find a replacement, and there has been renewed pressure upon the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, to stand.
Mr Ó Cuív, who rejected an approach made two weeks ago, has rejected a second attempt ordered by Taoiseach Brian Cowen in recent days, and made it clear he would not run, even at the price of losing his Cabinet place.
The Connemara-based Minister left yesterday for official duties in Toronto in Canada, and he will not return to Ireland until Monday morning – just hours before the time for nominations closes.
Several Cabinet Ministers are said to support the idea that the former minister of state and Connacht/Ulster MEP, Donegal South West TD Pat “The Cope” Gallagher should be asked to run.
He is not well placed geographically, however, since Fianna Fáil’s sole Euro candidate in the constituency at the moment is former senator,Leitrim-based Paschal Mooney. Ideally, his running mate would be based in Galway.
The party has struggled to find a strong Galway-based candidate to face down the threat posed by Libertas founder Declan Ganley. If Mr Ganley were to win one of the three seats, it would represent a huge blow to the Government ahead of the second Lisbon referendum.
Last night the south Donegal TD said he had not heard anything nor has any approach been made to him, but he added: “I am very anxious that the North West would be represented and having been an MEP, I realise the importance of it.” Mr Gallagher said that if an approach were made, he would seriously consider it.