Fianna Fáil party organisers are considering whether to invite extra candidates to contest the party selection convention for the East constituency in June's European elections despite the receipt of four nominations for next week's convention.
Minister of State Mr John Browne, parliamentary party chairman Mr Séamus Kirk, Westmeath TD Mr Donie Cassidy and Kildare-based national executive member Mr Gerry Bridgette are seeking places on the two-person party ticket for the former Leinster constituency, now called East. Last week the party officer board was authorised to add extra names to this contest and that in the North West constituency, but party sources say they will not necessarily act on this.
Nominations close today for the North West constituency and the party would not say yesterday who had been nominated. The sitting MEP Mr Seán Ó Neachtáin, who replaced Mr Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher who was elected in 1999 but resigned upon being appointed a Minister of State, is to seek to run. There has been some speculation that the party would like ministers of State Mr Frank Fahey and Mr Jim McDaid to run, but Mr McDaid has said he is not interested, while Mr Fahey's intentions are unclear. The selection convention takes place next month.
The party yesterday selected its outgoing Munster MEPs Mr Gerard Collins and Mr Brian Crowley to contest that constituency. They were unopposed. Next weekend a convention in Dublin is to select the only nominees, Mr Eoin Ryan TD and Dublin Lord Mayor Mr Royston Brady, to run in the capital.
Meanwhile, Lord Henry Mountcharles has confirmed an approach from Fine Gael to run in the East constituency. Sitting MEP Ms Avril Doyle is seeking to run again, while former MEP Ms Alan Gillis is also believed to be a contender. While some in Fine Gael still hold out hope that Mr John Bruton might run in East or Dublin, he has given no indication that his already declared decision not to run will change.