INDEPENDENT TD AND former Labour Party chairman Colm Keaveney has said he is considering running for the European Parliament next year.

The Galway East TD faces a significant hurdle to retain his seat at the next general election due to boundary changes and his decision to quit Labour over Budget cuts last year and various disagreements with the leadership since then.

But contrary to a report today Keaveney said he has not definitely declared his intention to run in 2014 European elections but he told TheJournal.ie: “Of course I am considering it.”

His final decision is likely to rest on the outcome of the redrawing of Ireland’s European constituency map in the wake of the reduction in the number of Irish MEPs from 12 to 11.

Various submissions to the Constituency Commission including one by Fine Gael have outlined options that include a single, three-seat Dublin constituency or else a wider five-seat constituency along the east coast that includes Dublin and other Leinster counties.

Keaveney may decide to run if a three-seater in Dublin and two four-seat constituencies in the North West and the South are created as it might bolster his chances in the west of the country.

But Labour is likely to push for a five-seat, expanded Dublin constituency to include other counties in a bid to ensure it gets at least one MEP re-elected next May.

Meanwhile, Dublin-based Sinn Féin political advisor Eoin Ó Broin has ruled out talk of him running for the party in the European elections.

“No. Absolutely not,” he said in response to the contention that he is in the running to stand for the party next year.

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