11 June 2004
13 seats
Electoral system: single transferable vote system
Ireland is divided into four constituencies:
Dublin (4 seats): Fine Gael (EPP-ED) is presenting the current national MP, Gay Mitchell, former Minister of State for European Affairs. The Labour Party has two candidates in the capital: - outgoing Proinsias de Rossa (64), who entered the EP for the first time in 1989 and who was a member of the European Convention; - and Ivana Bacik (35), Professor of Law. Outgoing Patricia McKenna (47), an artist and MEP since 1994 where she is particularly active in the fisheries sector, is still a candidate for the Green Party. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Royston Brady, will defend Fianna Fail (UEN) colours at the June elections, with national representative Eoin Ryan. In the parties not represented at the EP, there are Barry Despard for Christian Solidarity, Mary Lou McDonald for Sinn Fein (which does not have an elected member at the EP), and Joe Higgins, who did one month in prison end 2003 for having challenged the tax on waste, on behalf of the Socialist Party. Film-maker Paul Doonan is running as on independent candidate.
East (3 seats): Outgoing Avril Doyle (55), a biochemist, represents Fine Gael with the journalist, Mairead McGuinness. Labour is represented by the former secretary general of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Peter Cassells. The local representative, Mary White, will defend the colours of the Greens and Fianna Fail is sending two members of the Dail Eireann (the Lower House of the Irish Parliament): Liam Aylward and Seamus Kirk. John Dwyer is candidate for Sinn Feinn. Independent contenders are: - a young man of 24 years of age, Seanan O'Gogain, who is fighting for parental equality.
North-West (3 seats): Senator Jim Higgins will be running for Fine Gael. Labour is represented by Hughie Baxter, who works in the telecommunications sector. The current national representative, Jim McDaid (54), a general practitioner and former Defence Minister, represents Fianna Fail, with outgoing Sean O'Neachtain (56). Pearse Doherty represents Sinn Fein. Independent contenders are: - outgoing Dabna Rosemary Scallon (54), who won the Eurovision song contest in 1970 and who was well-known under the last legislature for her extremely conservative views (against abortion in particular); - and Marian Harkin, who is currently a member of the Lower House of the Irish Parliament.
South (3 seats): Former national deputy Simon Coveneyu (32), a rugby player, is running for Fine Gael against the leader of the Labour group in the Senate, Brendan Ryan. The local representative, Chris O'Leary, represents the Greens. Outgoing Gerard Collins (65), who has been MEP since 1994 (and who was notably Foreign Minister), and Brian Crowley (40), also MEP since 1994, Fianna Fail representative. David Cullinane is a Sinn Fein candidate. Independents include: - Kathy Sinnott, known in Ireland for her fight in favour of recognising the rights of the disabled to education; - and Gerard Hannan, author and a controversial media personality.