Sinn Féin has "the possibility" of taking a seat next June in each of the European Parliament constituencies on both sides of the Border, the party's president, Mr Gerry Adams, has said.
The party yesterday launched its full list of candidates, including former Executive minister for health, Ms Bairbre de Brún, who will run in Northern Ireland. "This is an important election, probably the most important European Union election that Sinn Féin has ever faced," Mr Adams commented.
Ms Mary Lou McDonald will run for the party in Dublin, Mr John Dwyer in East, Mr David Cullinane in South and Mr Pearse Doherty in the North West.
However, Sinn Féin carefully sidestepped questions about which European Parliament grouping it would join if it does actually win one seat, or more. The issue is important because it can be difficult to make an impact in the European Parliament unless one is part of the main alliances. Refusing to express any preference, Ms McDonald said: "We have not decided yet. We will have a discussion about that within the party in January."
Meanwhile, Mr Adams sought to claim credit for the Government's decision last week to seek changes to the proposed EU's Constitution's mutual defence clause. Along with Austria, Finland and Sweden, the Government has suggested that EU states under military attack should be able "to request" aid from fellow member-states.
The amendment would ensure that member-states would not automatically be required to render military assistance - an interference with Ireland's neutrality. The EU Constitution, which will be dealt with by EU leaders in Brussels this weekend, poses "a significant challenge", said Mr Adams.
"There is an opportunity for Sinn Féin and others to clearly explain why we don't want an EU that is a military or economic superpower," he said.
Based in Waterford, Mr Cullinane is a member of the party's Ard Comhairle and is also involved in a number of local community organisations.
Mr Doherty, from Gweedore, Co Donegal, unsuccessfully contested the last general election, when he won 7.5 per cent of the first-preference vote in Donegal South West.
A trade union official, Mr John Dwyer (37), from New Ross, Co Wexford, was elected to the town's Urban District Council in 1999. Given a higher profile by the party recently, Ms McDonald won just over 8 per cent of the first preferences in the Dublin West in the general election.
