Barry Cowen well on course for European Parliament seat after 12 counts in Midlands-North-West constituency

Barry Cowen is well on course for European Parliament seat after 12 counts in the Midlands-North-West constituency.

The Offaly Fianna Fail TD is on 75,594 votes after the latest count behind Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (Ind) on 84,665 votes, Nina Carberry (FG) on 77,205 votes and Maria Walsh (FG) on 76,491 votes.

With five seats to be filled, that quartet look set to get elected although they are all well off the quota of 113,325. 

So far 13 candidates have been eliminated from the mammoth field leaving 14 to battle it out for the five seats. The latest to be eliminated is Independent John Water and count 13 will see the distribution of his 17,206 votes. 

Behind the top four, former RTE journalist Ciaran Mullooly remains in fifth on 61,888 votes. The Independent Ireland candidate is almost 14,000 votes ahead of Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew although she will benefit substantially when her party colleague Chris McManus, who currently has 31,387 votes, is eventually eliminated. 

Aontu's Peadat Toibin and Fianna Fail's Lisa Chambers are just behind Michelle Gildernew with Chambers also set to benefit from the elimination of a party colleague when Niall Blaney's run ultimately ends. 

The next count will see the distribution of Social Democrat Rory Hearne's 19,279 votes.

As it stands after Count 12

LUKE 'MING' FLANAGAN, IND +1,809 - 84,665

NINA CARBERRY, FG +259 - 77,205

MARIA WALSH, FG +657 - 76,491

BARRY COWEN, FF +266 - 75,594

CIARAN MULLOOLY, II +1,479 - 61,888

MICHELLE GILDERNEW, SF +241 - 48,074

PEADAR TÓIBÍN, ATU +2806 - 46,447

LISA CHAMBERS, FF + 224 - 46,424

NIALL BLANEY, FF 154 - 31,850

CHRIS MACMANUS, SF +342 - 31,387

PETER CASEY, IND +1411 -25,054

SAOIRSE MCHUGH, IND +953 - 24,801

HERMANN KELLY, IFP +3572 - 20,885

RORY HEARNE, SD (e)

JOHN WATERS, IND (e)

PAULINE O'REILLY, GP (e)

FERGAL LANDY, LAB (e)

MICHELLE SMITH, IND (e)

ANTHONY CAHILL, IP (e)

JUSTIN BARRETT, NP (e)

BRIAN O'BOYLE, PBP/SOL (e)

JAMES REYNOLDS, NP (e)

MARGARET MAGUIRE, IF

DR. GERRY WATERS, IND (e)

STEPHEN GARLAND, IND (e)

CHARLOTTE KEENAN, IND (e)

DANIEL POCOCK, IND (e)