Sinn Féin is set to make significant gains throughout Ireland, winning at least two European seats, party leader Mr Gerry Adams claimed today.
"We are on target to make significant gains and Sinn Fein is increasingly seen as the only real alternative," he said at a press conference to mark the end of his party's local and European election campaigns.
"There is a mood for change out there but there is no room for apathy and complacency," he added. "There is no use people complaining afterwards because we get the politicians we deserve."
Mr Adams insisted his party could double their local council seats and win European seats for the first time.
"This is going to be a good election for Sinn Fín, a very, very solid election," Mr Adams predicted. "We are on target to return an all-Ireland team of MEPs in Europe for the first time."
Latest polls show Dublin MEP candidate Ms Mary Lou McDonald in fifth place in the four-seat constituency. The party's North West candidate, Mr Pearse Doherty, is also polling strongly, but is not expected to reach a quota, according to the latest Irish Times/tns MRBI poll.
In Northern Ireland, Ms Bairbre De Brún is strongly tipped to take one of the three seats.