Gillis to seek Fine Gael nomination for Europe

Mark Hennessy

Mark Hennessy

Former Fine Gael Leinster MEP, Mr Alan Gillis has announced he will seek a nomination to run as a Fine Gael candidate in the new East constituency in June.

"I am getting a good bit of pressure to run. I feel it would be a good idea," said Mr Gillis, who was narrowly beaten in the 1999 elections.

If confirmed by a party selection convention, the Kildare-based Mr Gillis will run alongside Ms Avril Doyle MEP, who operates from her Wexford base. Fine Gael is still hoping former Taoiseach, Mr John Bruton, will change his mind and run in the Dublin constituency in the June European elections, though he is showing no signs of doing so.