Labour selects candidate for Midlands North West constituency
Another name has been added to the growing list of candidates set to contest the European Parliament elections in the constituency of Midlands North West, with the selection of Galway-based Fergal Landy, who will contest the upcoming elections on behalf of the Labour Party.
Mr. Landy, who is also running for election to Galway County Council in the Athenry-Oranmore local electoral area, is CEO of the Family Resource Centre National Forum, which represents 121 Family Resource Centres nationwide, and he also has a strong background in community development, social work and human rights.
At last weekend's Labour Party selection convention, he outlined his key priorities for Midlands North West, with a focus on balanced regional and rural development; the protection of Ireland's neutrality, and the absence of long-term planning which has had such an impact on cities such as Galway and other parts of the region.
Fergal Landy told Labour party supporters at the convention that the three principles which will underpin his campaign to become an MEP are:
A clear line of accountability between the citizen and the European Union
A rights-based approach to public service provision and
An economy that serves society, not the other way around.
A native of Sixmilebridge in county Clare, Fergal Landy has lived in Galway for over 20 years with his partner, Áine, and their three children. He holds a degree in social work and a Masters in International Law and Human Rights. He is also a board member of the Children's Rights Alliance.
The Midlands North West constituency is set to be one of the most hotly contested areas in the country in the June elections, with a number of high-profile candidates having already entered the race, including former champion jockey and TV personality, Nina Carberry, who will run for Fine Gael alongside sitting MEP and former Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh.
Fianna Fail is set to run three candidates, with the most high-profile being Laois/Offaly TD, Barry Cowen, while Sinn Féin has looked to Northern Ireland for a second candidate to run alongside their sitting MEP, Chris McManus, and are hoping that MP Michelle Gildernew can take a second seat for the party.
Meanwhile, former RTE correspondent and Longford native, Ciaran Mullooly is hoping to take a seat for the country's newest political party, Independent Ireland, while Aontú leader and the party's only TD, Peadar Tóibín, has also signalled his intention of running for a seat in Europe in the Midlands North West constituency.
Sitting MEP for the constituency, Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, has already stated his intention of seeking another term in Europe.