The dissident bishop Michael Cox who ordained singer Sinéad O'Connor in 1999 is the latest to announce he will contest the next general election in the Laois/Offaly constituency.
He will be campaigning for improved health services and reduced hospital waiting lists. Competing with him for one of five seats in the constituency will be the recently declared PD candidate Mr Tom Parlon and sitting TDs Brian Cowen, John Moloney, Seán Fleming and Charles Flanagan. Olwyn Enright, a daughter of outgoing Fine Gael TD Tom Enright, has also declared her candidacy.
Despite the competition for seats, Bishop Cox believes he is in "with as fair a chance as anybody else".
"It's quite possible I could be elected, because I stand for a lot of really good stuff," he said. "I'm also very well known, and I say that in all humility."
From Mitchelstown, Co Cork, he has headed his own religious order since 1982. He uses the title of the bishop superior of the Irish Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church. His ministry is based at a former Protestant church, St Coleman's, at Cree, near Birr, Co Offaly.
He said many people travelled to the church for healing. They made him aware of problems in the health service. "A clergyman can only do so much but if elected I could actually have a chance of changing things," he said.
Other issues which concern him are the cost of housing, unemployment and schooling for the intellectually disabled.