The Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes has launched his bid for election to the European Parliament. The Dublin South-West TD is seeking the Fine Gael nomination to succeed Gay Mitchell in the May election.
The Minister - who had been tipped for a Cabinet job in a reshuffle later this year - says he had intend to serve a full five-year term.
The Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the OPW says that with a smaller Irish delegation in the next Parliament, it has never been more important we send strong politicians to Brussels.
Brian Hayes to Seek Nomination to Stand for European Parliament in Dublin. http://t.co/c4sTomIc4Z #EP14
— Fine Gael (@FineGaelToday) January 29, 2014
"If elected to the European Parliament, I will take particular interest in the new banking union, tackling youth unemployment, developing non-bank lending and helping business start-ups and SME growth" he said.
Electoins will be held on May 23rd.
Mr. Hayes says he does not see himself running for the Dáil again in 2016. And he says he will give back his Ministerial paycheque if he wins the party nomination.
Meanwhile Independent MEP Nessa Childers is to contest the Dublin constituency in the European Parliament elections.
She was originally elected in the East constituency in 2009 as a Labour candidate. However she resigned from the party in July claiming dissatisfaction with the direction the party was taking in government.
