Extra Euro seat up for grabs in for Midlands-North West constituency

The Midlands-North West constituency of Ireland in the European Parliament - which includes Co Meath - looks set to get an extra seat in the parliament, following a recommendation by the country's independent electoral commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin,

On Monday, the commission has made its recommendations to the Oireachtas on the make-up of the country's electoral constituencies for June’s European Parliament elections.

The commission recommends that an additional 14th MEP allocated to Ireland for the European Parliament elections, will be allocated to Midlands-North West, and that the counties of Laois and Offaly transfer from the South constituency into the Midlands constituency.

The recommendations follow a month long public consultation with submissions received from political parties, elected representatives and interested individuals.

Chair of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ms Justice Marie Baker of the Supreme Court, stated: “In late September a long-awaited EU decision allocated an additional 14th MEP seat to Ireland, stemming from our growing population and EU rules on the European Parliament’s composition. Our recommendation is to allocate this additional seat to the Midlands-North West constituency, making it a five-seater and bringing in the counties of Offaly and Laois into that constituency from the South.

“As Ireland’s independent electoral commission, we have worked quickly to ensure this recommendation is brought forward ahead of the statutory schedule. It is now for the Oireachtas to consider and legislate appropriately.”

Currently, four MEPs represent Midlands-North West - Maria Walsh and Colm Markey of Fine Gael, Luke Ming Flanagan, Independent, and Chris McManus of Sinn Fein.

Markey, from Louth, was the substitute candidate for Mairead McGuinness from Drumconrath when she was elevated to the post of European Commissioner. There has been speculation that if she was not returned as Commissioner, she would run again for the Parliament, but reports in national media this week say she has put paid to that idea.

Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers has made no secret of her desire to run for Europe - as far back as a visit she made to Eureka School in Kells a couple of years ago, while Barry Cowen may now be a consideration, with the move of Laois-Offaly to the constituency.

With the retirement of former Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald as a Dublin MEP, one of those Fine Gael names put forward as a possible successor is Regina Doherty, the former Meath East TD who is now "fighting for Fingal". Another former member of Meath County Council, Senator Annie Hoey, is also been mentioned as a candidate in Dublin, for the Labour Party.

Meanwhile, this Friday 24th November, sees MEP Colm Markey host a conference in the City North Hotel, Gormanston, to explore the challenges and opportunities in the development and roll out of sustainable aviation fuel. Special guest will be Ryanair chief executive, Michael O’Leary.

Other speakers are chairperson of Aircraft Leasing Ireland, Marie-Louise Kelly; Donal Moriarty of Aer Lingus; Director of Sustainable Flight Solutions, Aidan Bodkin; and academics Stephen Dooley and Trevor Young.