The Green Party will field their largest candidate list so far in next month's elections, with 159 candidates due to contest local authority seats.
Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent was confident today as he launched the party's European and local election manifesto, despite weekend polls predicting the party will suffer big losses.
Saturday's Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll found that the Green Party would lose its Leinster seat, while Ms Patricia McKenna's seat was under pressure from Sinn Féin's Ms Mary Lou McDonald in Dublin.
Mr Sargent said the party had seen similar results before the last European elections, when it went on to win two seats. He said: "If it comes down to a choice I believe the voters will choose strong environmental candidates with proven hard-working track records. However, we do not underestimate the extent of the tough challenge in these very competitive constituencies."
The party's 159 candidates will contest seats in almost two-thirds of constituencies.
Mr. Sargent said today that it was time for a radical shake up of local Government. He pledged the Greens would pursue a complete overhaul of local government structures by challenging the style and culture of how local government works to ensure maximum public participation in the process.