The Dublin West Socialist TD, Mr Joe Higgins, has confirmed that he will be a candidate in next year's European elections in Dublin.
He told The Irish Times yesterday: "Our party feels we should offer a socialist alternative to the people in the greater Dublin area."
Mr Higgins added that, if elected, he would continue his policy of living on the average industrial wage, with the rest of his earnings financing election campaigns for his colleagues.
"I think you will have a huge anti-establishment vote in this election. We will be standing on our record on a whole series of issues. The bin charges, on which we set the agenda some months ago, will continue to be an important issue."
Mr Higgins's entry into the race will make the constituency more competitive.
While, as of now, he is not expected to take a seat, he will poll well and his transfers could be decisive in determining the destination of the last two seats in the four-seater.
Currently, the seats are held by Fianna Fáil's Mr Niall Andrews, Fine Gael's Ms Mary Banotti, Labour's Mr Proinsias De Rossa and the Green Party's Ms Patricia McKenna.
With Mr Andrews and Ms Banotti retiring, the search is on within their two parties for high-profile candidates.
The Dublin South East TD, Mr Eoin Ryan, is expected to run for Fianna Fáil, but the party could have difficulty in persuading one of its northside TDs to go as a running mate.
The problems for Fine Gael, depleted in the capital since the 2002 general election, are acute. So far, only Mr Colm Mac Eochaidh, the barrister and environmentalist, has declared an interest.
Mr De Rossa and the TCD law lecturer, Ms Ivana Bacik, will run for Labour, while Ms Mary Lou McDonald will be the Sinn Féin candidate. Ms McKenna will be seeking re-election.
Fianna Fáil and Labour are likely to secure two of the seats, and a bitter battle is likely to follow for the remaining two seats.
The PD Dublin South TD, and former junior minister for foreign affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, has yet to decide if she will run. If she does, she would be a formidable candidate, likely to secure some of the Fine Gael vote if the party's fortunes do not improve in the capital.
Mr Higgins, meanwhile, will probably be happy if he boosts his party's standing in Dublin, given that the local elections are being held at the same time. The party hopes to run 15 candidates in the local elections.
