Aylward, Cassells for Euro elections

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Liam Aylward, has been put on the Fianna Fáil ticket to run in the European election…

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Liam Aylward, has been put on the Fianna Fáil ticket to run in the European election in the East constituency.

Separately, Labour selected the former head of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr Peter Cassells, to run in the same constituency.

Fianna Fáil said the officer board of its National Executive has directed that one candidate will be selected from the south of the constituency and one from the north.

The Minister of State for Communications, Mr John Brown, who was believed to be in the running, will not be seeking a nomination on at a convention on Sunday. This means Mr Aylward, from Co Kilkenny, will the only candidate for the south of the region, making his selection a certainty. Fianna Fáil said that unanimous support for Mr Alyward was expected. The Westmeath TD Mr Donie Cassidy, the Louth TD Mr Séamus Kirk, and a national executive member, Mr Gerry Bridgette, are seeking the nomination in the north section.

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In Labour, Mr Cassells won 70 per cent of a postal vote in a contest against Mr Peter Ward, a barrister. Mr Cassells said he will campaign with an anti-corruption message.

Arthur Beesley

Arthur Beesley

Arthur Beesley is Current Affairs Editor of The Irish Times