The Independent TD for Mayo, Dr Jerry Crowley, says he will not now be running in the European elections in June.
The Independent TD had confirmed recently that he was considering running, but is now expected to support the candidature of the Independent Sligo/Leitrim TD, Ms Marian Harkin, in the European elections.
Dr Crowley said the Government should be held accountable for "failing to deliver EU funds" to the west - a central plank of Ms Harkin's European election campaign. "However, I think I can do that best in the Dáil. It is not the European Parliament that has failed the west - it is our own Government," he said.
Dr Crowley referred in his statement yesterday to "considerable speculation" about his candidature in the wake of "private polls". The TD was referring to reports that he had been tipped to take a seat in the North-West constituency in research undertaken by Fianna Fáil.
Fianna Fáil has declined to comment on claims that Dr Cowley was on a sample ballot paper used in the research.
