Gay Mitchell not to Contest European Parliament 2014 Elections

Speaking in Strasbourg, Dublin MEP Gay Mitchell said today (Thursday, 14th March) he will not contest the 2014 European Elections.

“When I first stood for the European Parliament in 2004 I did so at the request of the Party Leader, as Fine Gael had only three Dáil seats out of 43 in Dublin, one of which was mine.

In 2009 Dublin was reduced from a 4 seater to a 3 seater and I stood again. Next year I will be 10 years in Parliament, and I have already served 26 years as a T.D., having been first elected in my twenties.

Fine Gael now has 16 T.Ds, three Senators and 36 councillors in Dublin. Taking all things into account I believe this is a good time to allow new candidates to emerge.

I am making this decision public so as to allow for consultations and arrangements to be made well in advance.”