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Brian Crowley MEP

Fianna Fáil and Labour select European candidates for Ireland South

Micheál Martin paid tribute to Liam Aylward who is retiring from politics, while Eamon Gilmore said the Labour Party is ready to fight come May.

Updated 19.00pm

FIANNA FÁIL TODAY selected its European candidates for Ireland South with Brian Crowley and Kieran Hartley being picked to have their names on the ballot.

Brian Crowley is already a sitting an MEP, while Hartley is a Waterford-based activist, state Fianna Fáil.

Adrian O’Higgins withdrew from the race but received a standing ovation at the Ireland-South European Parliament selection convention which was held today in Clonmel, County Tipperary today.

Retiring

Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin addressed party members at the event and commended the outgoing MEP Liam Aylward stating that he had “given great service to Ireland over many years”.

Aylward announced in November that he was standing down, bringing his 40-year political career to an end, stating: “I’ve been in politics a long time”.

Martin stated today:

During Liam’s two terms in the European Parliament he built a big reputation for his work especially on the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

He produced a very important and influential report on the sheep sector – and was a strong and effective voice for Ireland in Europe.

I want to thank Liam for his great service to Fianna Fáil and to the people of our country.

Martin said that they need representatives that could represent peoples’ concerns in Europe, adding:

There’s a reason why Brian Crowley has won the first seat in every one of the last four European elections – he’s a great MEP.

Speaking about Hartley, Martin said “as a growing party” they are “striving to represent the people of a modern, changing country”. He added that it was vital they had the ability to attract new people.

Labour also made a selection today for the Ireland South constituency, with Phil Prendergast being selected.

Speaking at the convention today in Cork, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said Prendergast “is no stranger to standing up for what she believes in”.

He said Prendergast “has been a tireless champion of Irish and European consumers, particularly in relation to access to credit, in tackling misleading advertising, and in relation to patient safety.
She has also put jobs at the top of her agenda, working in particular on behalf of small businesses looking to access new markets”.

He added:

She has been an influential voice within the Social and Democrat group, for equality for gay and lesbian citizens.

Phil has been an excellent representative for the people of Ireland South.  She is someone who has, for three years, fought their corner.  And I know that Phil, and the Labour Party, is ready to fight again in May – and win.

Read: ‘I’ve been in politics a long time’: Fianna Fáil MEP Aylward to retire next year>

Read: Brian Hayes: This is a serious election for serious people>

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59 Comments
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    Mute dublinlad72
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    Oct 29th 2012, 2:38 PM

    Sandy sounds increasingly like my wife when she’s on the warpath!

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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Oct 29th 2012, 2:41 PM

    It must get very windy in your house, does she blow hot or cold air?

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    Mute SeanR
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    Oct 29th 2012, 2:41 PM

    Dept of Foreign Affairs is kind of late to the party with that advice. The east coast airports are closed. People couldn’t travel even of they wanted to.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Oct 29th 2012, 2:48 PM

    The first paragraph does not make sense because you won’t be able to travel to the US. All flights are cancelled to the north east.

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Oct 29th 2012, 3:06 PM

    To be fair, the advice is also intended for people who aren’t necessarily travelling directly from Ireland.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Oct 29th 2012, 4:40 PM

    Gavan, true but you can’t travel without the plane.

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Oct 29th 2012, 7:53 PM

    No, but like I said, if you’re not currently in Ireland and happened to be, say, elsewhere in the USA, perhaps you were intending to drive to the north-east?

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    Mute Damocles
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    Oct 29th 2012, 3:40 PM

    People need to be told this? Anyone likely to look to see probably already has a fair idea of what’s going on there,

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    Mute Biggins31
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    Oct 29th 2012, 6:10 PM

    You’d be surprised (maybe not) at the stupidity of some people still.
    Some still have to be told these things sadly.

    Like the America packets of peanuts that has on the packets “Warning: Contains nuts” Loads of similar examples available).
    Silly to state these things but sadly have to still be done because people can be stupid.

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