North West MEP goes on solo run over electoral boundaries
Galway Bay fm newsroom - North West MEP, Jim Higgins, has proposed a new electoral boundaries ahead of the European elections, which would see the North-West constituency take in counties Offaly and Laois.
According to the Irish Independent, the Fine Gael MEP's suggestion is at odds with the proposals coming from the party's head office.
Ireland currently has 12 MEPS but that will be reduced to 11 in the next election, necessitating the need for a boundary review.
MEP Higgins' proposal would see Connacht-Ulster join with northern Leinster, excluding Dublin.
The remainder of the Ireland East constituency would become part of the South-East constituency.
It's thought MEP Higgins' proposal is aimed at ensuring Mairéad McGuinness doesn't enter his North West constituency and is instead pushed to the Munster and Leinster area.
Today's Irish Independent suggests that Fine Gael wants Jim Higgins to stand aside in the next European election allowing for a potential new candidate, such as T.D John O' Mahony.
There are currently four European constituencies with three seats each- Dublin, Ireland East, Ireland South and Ireland North-West.
MEP Higgins' proposal would see this change to three constituencies- Ireland North West with 3 seats, Ireland South East with 5 seats and Dublin with 3 seats.
His submission says the suggestion takes account of practical similarites of certain counties such as Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow in the Dublin commuter belt.