Barry Cowen (born 28 August 1967)[1] is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the Midlands–North-West constituency since July 2024.

[7][8] The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was asked by the Gardaí to investigate the alleged leaking of information concerning Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen's drink driving arrest.

Cowen accused gardaí of criminality for leaking allegations that he attempted to evade a garda checkpoint before he was caught drink driving.

[11] On 14 July 2020, after he refused to resign the role of Minister for Agriculture, Cowen was sacked by Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, due to the controversy surrounding his conviction for drink driving.

[16] In March 2023, political news website The Ditch reported that Cowen had failed to declare rental income from 32 acres of farmland, in breach of Standards in Public Office Commission rules.

[18] In 2023 he opposed extending the eviction ban put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing an extension to "making sweets free for children".

[19] In 2024, Cowen won the Fianna Fáil nomination to stand in the 2024 European Parliament election in the Midlands–North-West constituency, defeating senators Niall Blaney and Lisa Chambers at the selection convention.