Castlerea's Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan takes first seat in Midlands-North-West
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan has been re-elected for the Midlands North West constituency reaching the quota of 113,325. Pic. Niall Carson/PA Wire
There were scenes of great jubilations at the TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar this evening as Castlerea’s Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan was deemed re-elected for the Midlands North West constituency reaching the quota of 113,325 votes on the 19th count following transfers from Peadar Tóibín of Aontú to give him a total vote of 118,754.
The Castlerea native has now retained his MEP seat in three elections, and this time again topped the poll as he did as a Europe newcomer back in 2014.
Earlier today sitting MEP Chris McManus (SF) lost his seat in the 17th count. His transfers to Michelle Gildernew (+20,692) put her ahead of Ballyleague’s Ciaran Mullooly (II) in the race for the fifth seat. However, Peader Tobin's transfers to Mullooly has again put him in front with 83,194 votes, while the Sinn Fein candidate’s vote now stands at 79,398.
All eyes in the count centre are now on the race between Mullooly and Gildernew with Mullooly widely expected to make it over the line. The other three seats will be filled by Barry Cowen (FF), Maria Walsh (FG) and Nina Carberry (FG).
Now ten years working in Brussels, Luke 'Ming' Flanagan' was the most experienced candidate in a crowded field and over the last few months widely promoted his election slogan as the man who “understands the job”.
He was a self-confessed Eurosceptic when he won his first term in parliament but has acknowledged that getting to understand how the system works over time can deliver benefits to the region.
“I was someone who said that Europe isn't listening to us, but I have discovered that if you do it the right way, you can make them listen to you,” he told the Roscommon Herald.
Part of the Left group in the EU parliament, Mr Flanagan sits on the Committee of Budgetary Control and, despite not being a member, has also worked effectively with the Petitions committee on whistle blower and defective concrete issues.
However, work on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as a member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development gave him particular satisfaction. He has attended 98 out of 110 of those committee meetings in the last five years and participated in 186 debates.
