Journalist to seek nomination

EUROPEAN ELECTIONS:JOURNALIST SUSAN O'Keeffe is to seek a Labour Party nomination to contest the North-West constituency in the European elections.

O’Keeffe’s candidacy was announced as the Labour Party conference started in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, yesterday. Her selection is a foregone conclusion.

“I want to contribute to building a fairer Ireland and a fairer Europe where working together means just that,” she said.

“As a member of Labour, and following its proud tradition, I will continue to ask difficult questions of politicians and policymakers, whenever and wherever they need to be asked.”

O’Keeffe lives in Collooney, Co Sligo, with her husband and three children. Sligo is also the base of the Independent MEP for the constituency, Marian Harkin. The other two MEPs are Galway-based Seán Ó Neachtain, of Fianna Fáil, and Mayo-based Jim Higgins, of Fine Gael.

While working with the World in Action TVprogramme, in 1995, she was threatened with imprisonment in Ireland for refusing to reveal sources in an investigation into scandals in the meat industry.

She was later cleared of a charge of contempt of court. The programme led to the establishment of the beef tribunal to investigate the beef industry.

O’Keeffe said that it mattered a lot to her personally that the Irish be strong Europeans.

“If I can put my hands up and say I can do my bit, then I am prepared to do that.”

She said that Labour did not have anything “like a bronze, or silver, or golden circle, and I have never been a member of any of those either”.

She said that she looked forward to debating issues with head of Libertas Declan Ganley, who is also a candidate in the North-West.