Nominations: Nominations close today for the European and local elections on June 11th. With candidates and parties set to step up their campaigns this week, both polls are seen as a crucial mid-term test for the Coalition and the Opposition. The referendum on citizenship will also be held on the same day.
The European election is the first since the number of Irish seats was reduced to 13 from 15 to make room in the parliament for the 10 new EU member-states.
The European constituencies were redrawn in this process and a number of senior MEPs have retired, including Mr Pat Cox (Ind), the outgoing president of the European Parliament.
Fianna Fáil faces into the European election with six seats.
After the retirement of Mr Niall Andrews, the Fianna Fáil candidates in Dublin are Mr Eoin Ryan TD and the city's Lord Mayor, Mr Royston Brady.
The party's candidates in the East constituency, formerly Leinster, are Mr Liam Aylward and the chairman of the parliamentary party, Mr Séamus Kirk. This follows the retirement of Mr Jim Fitzsimons and Mr Liam Hyland.
Fianna Fáil's candidates in the South constituency, formerly Munster, are Mr Brian Crowley and Mr Gerard Collins. Mr Seán Ó Neachtain, the substitute candidate for Mr Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, and the Minister of State, Dr Jim McDaid, are running for Fianna Fáil in the North-West constituency, formerly Connacht-Ulster.
The PDs decided not to contest the European election when Ms Liz O'Donnell did not allow her name to go forward.
Fine Gael faces into the European election with four seats. After the retirement of Ms Mary Banotti, the party's candidate in Dublin is Mr Gay Mitchell TD. It has two candidates in the East constituency, Ms Avril Doyle and Ms Mairéad McGuinness.
The Fine Gael candidate in the South constituency is Mr Simon Coveney TD, following the retirement of Mr John Cushnahan. With Mr Joe McCartin retiring, the candidates in the North-West are Senator Jim Higgins and Ms Madeleine Taylor-Quinn.
Labour has one sitting MEP, Mr Proinsias de Rossa, who is seeking re-election in Dublin. The academic and barrister, Prof Ivana Bacik, is also seeking election for the party in Dublin.
The trade unionist Mr Peter Cassells is running for Labour in the East constituency. Senator Brendan Ryan is running in the South constituency, and Mr Hughie Baxter is the candidate in the North-West.
The Greens hold two European seats. While Ms Patricia McKenna is seeking re-election in Dublin, the outgoing Leinster MEP Ms Nuala Ahern is retiring. Ms Mary White is seeking Ms Ahern's seat in the East constituency, while Mr Chris O'Leary is running in the South.
Sinn Féin's main hope of a European Parliament seat rests with Ms Mary-Lou McDonald, its candidate in Dublin. The party's other candidates are Mr John Dwyer (East); Mr David Cullinane (South); and Mr Pearse Doherty (North West).
Mr Joe Higgins TD is running for the Socialist Party in Dublin.
The Independent MEP Ms Dana-Rosemary Scallon is seeking re-election in the North-West. The Independent TD Ms Marian Harkin is also seeking election in that constituency.
