The daughter of an SDLP minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly is to stand in the forthcoming general election.
Ciara Farren (31) has been chosen to challenge the Democratic Unionist Party MP, Peter Robinson, for his East Belfast seat.
After being nominated by the SDLP, Ms Farren said it was an honour to follow her father, Further and Higher Education Minister Mr Sean Farren, into politics.
She said: "The party is running six women candidates in this election and I am delighted to be part of a forward-looking campaign which will seek to maximise the pro-agreement representation throughout the North and promote the role and interests of women within political life here."
Ms Farren is currently adviser on European affairs to SDLP leader Mr John Hume.
Before taking up that position in 1999, she worked for three years as a researcher in the European Parliament.
PA