The Independent TD for Mayo, Dr Jerry Cowley, has denied that he has thrown his full support behind Dana Rosemary Scallon's European campaign and has called for votes for both Independent candidates in the North West constituency.
Ms Scallon, who presented her nomination papers in Sligo on Thursday, said in a statement this week that she was "delighted" that Dr Cowley had agreed to be her replacement candidate, along with the former Donegal County Council chairman, Mr Paddy Kelly.
However, Dr Cowley said yesterday that he was also still backing the candidature of Ms Marian Harkin, Independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim. The Mayo GP, who has worked with Ms Harkin in the past, said he believed that two Independents could be elected for the north-west.
"I think we have seen how the established political parties can let us down, and I think there is room, and there is a need, for two independent voices to represent the west and the north-west in Europe," Dr Cowley said. He declined to reveal to which candidate he would be giving his first-preference vote.
Earlier this year Dr Cowley confirmed that he was considering standing for the European Parliament. However, he then announced that he felt he could do better in the Dáil and would not be standing in June.
At the time Fianna Fáil declined to comment on reports that Dr Cowley's name had been on a sample ballot paper used in research on voting trends, which indicated that he could take a seat.
