Countdown to European Parliament election set to get underway

THE Midlands North West is to remain a four-seat constituency for next year's European Parliament elections, a boundary review has confirmed.

But it loses the counties of Offaly and Laois to the South constituency, now a five-seater, while the Dublin constituency will elect four MEP.

The four outgoing MEPs for Midlands North West are Matt Carty (SF), Luke Ming Flanagan (Ind), Marian Harkin (Ind.) and Mairead McGuinness (FG).

Mayo Fine Gael Senator John O'Mahony is set to seek a Fine Gael nomination while Ballyvary farming activist John Comer has expressed an interest in running for Fianna Fàil.