There are a number of candidates who could fill the vacancy left behind by the Laois Offaly TD.
Speculation is already mounting is to who will fill the potential vacancy left behind after a midlands TD announced his intention to run for a seat in European Parliament.
Laois Offaly Fianna Fáil TD Deputy Barry Cowen says he's seeking the party nomination to run in the Midlands North West Constituency in next June's elections.
Fianna Fáil Councillors Eddie Fitzpatrick, Peter Ormond, Robert McDermott and Declan Harvey have all said they'd be honoured to put their name forward for a seat in the Dáil.
Councillor Fitzpatrick narrowly missed out in the last election, falling short by 170 votes - he says he'll be putting his hat in the ring once again:
A midlands TD vying for a seat in Europe can be seen as a "win-win situation."
They're the thoughts of the Deputy Editor of the Tullamore Tribune, Gearoid Keegan.
Mr. Keegan says there's nothing stopping Deputy Cowen from trying to get back into the Dáil, if Europe doesn't work out: