Fianna Fáil TD for Laois-Offaly Barry Cowen has announced he will seek nomination to contest next year's European Elections.
If successful in securing a nomination, Mr Cowen will run in the Midlands North West constituency following Laois and Offaly's transfer from the South constituency, as recommended by the Electoral Commission last week.
In line with a decision by the European Council in September, Ireland will be represented by 14 MEPs after June's vote, increasing from 13.
The commission recommended that the State's new seat be allocated to Midlands North West, bringing the constituency's total to five. The South constituency also has five seats, while Dublin has four.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, the former minister for agriculture said he notified his party colleagues of his plan to put his name forward for selection as a candidate at a special meeting of the Fianna Fáil organisation in Offaly on Monday night.
"With the addition of Laois-Offaly into the Midlands North West constituency, I feel now is the right time for me to try and deliver for my constituency at a European level, having been a councillor for 20 years and a TD for 12 years," Mr Cowen said.
He added: "Reinstating a seat or seats in this constituency will be important for the party and I believe I can deliver that having successfully contested many elections with a strong network and family history of pro-European public service."
