Barry Cowen is to run for the European Parliament.
He has issued a statement confirming he’ll be putting his name forward for selection as a candidate.
He says now is the right time for him to try to deliver for his Midlands-North-West constituency at a European level.
If elected, the Laois-Offaly TD would bring an end to five decades of Cowens’ representing their local area in the Dáil.
Finance Minister Michael McGrath thinks he’s a strong name to put forward for Europe: