Clare EU Candidate Says By-Election Must Be Held Immediately If County Loses TD To Europe

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A Clare candidate who was unsuccessful in his European election bid says those chosen to represent Ireland South must prioritise issues of disability, mental health and imbalanced regional investment. With the 18th count due to get underway at the Nemo Rangers Count Centre in Cork, Clare TD Michael McNamara remains in contention to take a seat. Cratloe's Eddie Punch made it to count 14 before being excluded, having received a total 26,167 votes in the process. The final tally left the former General Secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association in 13th position of the 23 candidates in the race. His transfers benefitted his fellow county man significantly though, with 6,690 of his votes going to Clare Independent candidate Michael McNamara, who now lies in third position, with five seats on offer. As things stand, the Scariff Deputy looks likely to take a seat, which would trigger a bye-election and this, by law must be held within six months, unless there's a General Election. But Eddie Punch who ran under the banner of Independent Ireland, believes this process must be expedited to ensure Clare has adequate Dáil representation. He insists though regardless of who is chosen to represent Ireland South, issues of disability, a mental health epidemic and imbalanced regional investment must be prioritised in European Parliament. Back at Nemo Rangers GAA Club, the votes of Fine Gael candidate John Mullins are currently being distributed which will prove pivotal to determing the final outcome. Deputy McNamara has done well from the elimination of Ireland First candidate Derek Blighe, receiving over 8,100 of his transfers to leapfrog Kathleen Funchion of Sinn Féin. At present just 3,800 votes separate MEP Mick Wallace in 5th and the Green Party MEP Grace O'Sullivan in 7th, while Fianna Fáil's Cynthia NÍ Mhurchú lies between in 6th. Michael McNamara remains 2,000 votes ahead of his nearest competitor, but with three candidates still to be eliminated, the contest for the final three seats is wide open.