Ireland South MEP Mick Wallace has confirmed that he will seek re-election to the European Parliament next June.
Mr Wallace told RTÉ's European Parliament Report programme that he believes it will be a challenge for him to retain his seat.
Both Mr Wallace and his group colleague Clare Daly, who has also confirmed to RTÉ News that she will seek re-election, were first elected to the parliament in 2019.
However, they have both been the subject of controversy over the past few years, particularly due to their stance on the war in Ukraine.
They have opposed military support to the country, accusing Western countries of fueling the war. Instead, they have called for a negotiated peace settlement.
MEP Mick Wallace confirms that he will seek re-election to the European Parliament but believes it will be challenging.
— RTÉ Politics (@rtepolitics) November 25, 2023
He also responds to recent boundary changes to Ireland-South.
Watch full European Parliament Report: Sat 10:20am, Sun night after @rtetwip or on RTÉ Player pic.twitter.com/psji1zv6ki
In relation to recent boundary changes announced for the Ireland-South constituency in the next election, Mr Wallace said that he was disappointed to see Laois and Offaly removed from the constituency, adding that he had received "great support" in Offaly in 2019.
He said that he believed it would be difficult for him to be re-elected.
"If Sinn Féin gets two seats in Ireland-South, it will be very hard for me to get in", he told the programme.
Separately, Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher, who will also seek to contest the European elections next year, expressed disappointment that Ireland-South would lose Laois and Offaly.
"As a public representative for years, you never like to lose ground... I wish they had stayed and if the status quo was to be but it is not", he told the programme.
Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh, representing Midlands-North-West, will see her constituency grow to 15 counties with five MEPs.
While welcoming the extra seat and counties, she conceded that it was quite a large area to represent, particularly given the fact that MEPs must also travel between Brussels and Strasbourg as part of their parliamentary duties.
However, she told the programme that she welcomed the additional areas.
RTÉ's European Parliament Report is broadcast on RTÉ One on Saturday at 10:20am, and Sunday night and is available on the RTÉ Player.
