Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly is expected to formally join the Renew group in the European Parliament within the next week, following the endorsement of a key figure within the liberal grouping.
Sandro Gozi, a French MEP who is close to French President Emmanuel Macron, has written to the leaders of Renew recommending Mr Mullooly’s membership.
The move would see the Midlands-North-West MEP join Fianna Fáil’s four MEPs, who are also members of Renew.
It is understood a number of Fianna Fáil MEPs had expressed reservations about Mr Mullooly joining Renew on the basis that Independent Ireland was a right-wing and eurosceptic party.
However, those objections appear to have been dropped.
Mr Gozi sought the MEP’s candidacy in a letter, seen by RTÉ News, to the leader of Renew in the Parliament, French MEP Valerie Hayer, and the group’s general secretary Philip Drauz.
Mr Gozi said Mr Mullooly’s “commitment to promoting democracy, social justice, and a more cohesive and progressive Europe makes him a valuable addition to our team.
“His expertise and knowledge in agriculture and rural development would also make him an ideal candidate for our group.”
Mr Gozi is secretary general of the European Democratic Party (EDP), one of the parties which make up the Renew group in the European Parliament.
Mr Mullooly’s candidacy was initially put forward by former MEP Marian Harkin, who is a vice-president of the EDP.
It is understood that the EDP holds a coveted seat on the European Parliament’s agriculture committee, and that the seat will go to Mr Mullooly when his candidacy is accepted.
Earlier, Renew confirmed that independent MEP Michael McNamara had also joined the group.
Mr Mullooly told RTÉ News he had approached a number of political groups in the European Parliament, including on the centre-left and centre-right, following his election.
He said that he was also in talks with the European Free Alliance, which is part of the Green grouping in the European Parliament.
“We have spoken to two or three parties in the centre since I was elected.
“We’ve been most impressed with the EDP commitment to some of the issues that I fought the election on. They describe themselves as a party of humanists. I found their manifesto, particularly their attention to detail on people politics, is what struck me in the discussions,” mr Mullooly said.
He added: “I will be the voice of the EDP in terms of agricultural farming, and we’d also be expecting a substitute role on another committee to be confirmed, probably regional development or employment.”
The Renew group lost around 20 seats in the June European elections.
Asked if he will vote for Ursula von der Leyen in her bid to secure a second term as European Commission president, Mr Mullooly told RTÉ News he would “keep an open mind.”
It is understood he has been in touch with Ms Von der Leyen’s team in recent days and was expecting to meet them shortly.
He said: “I have taken a position at all times during the election campaign where I would put the welfare of the people of Palestine and Gaza at the top of my agenda in terms of the ongoing situation.
“That’s a priority for me in any discussion. I would like to hear what Von der Leyen has to say about that. As things stand, we haven’t decided.
“I’m certainly supporting the people of Gaza and Palestine and certainly seeking aid for them, but I want to know what Von der Leyen will do for them, if she is re-elected.
“I’m keeping an open mind. We’ll see what she does before we make a decision.”
Fianna Fáil’s MEPs indicated during the campaign they would vote against Ms Von der Leyen, who has to have her nomination – made by a majority of EU leaders during last week’s EU summit – confirmed by the European Parliament in two weeks’ time.
Ms Von der Leyen’s team is expected to meet the Fianna Fáil delegation in the coming days.
