SINN FEIN/Analysis: Sinn Féin's policy on Europe has evolved from "No" to "critical engagement", writes Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent.
Sinn Féin condemned the Common Market before it became the European Community, before that was turned into the European Union, predicting one disaster for Ireland after another.
Today, it is still an opponent, but the policy has developed into one of "critical engagement". On June 11th, Sinn Féin is putting up five candidates for the European Parliament: four in the Republic and one in Northern Ireland.
While the party's best prospect is Bairbre de Brún in the North, it could take one seat in Dublin, if Ms Mary Lou McDonald gets a fair wind. Mr Pearse Doherty is also appearing on the radar in North-West.
One seat in the Republic would be a tremendous result. Two would be beyond belief, but the elections will leave a useful residue. Waterford-based David Cullinane in South and John O'Dwyer in Wexford have little hope in the Euros, but the experience could strengthen their chances of a Dáil seat.
Unlike candidates in other parties, Sinn Féin's runners are quick to emphasise that they will take "only a little above the standard industrial wage" from their MEP's salary.
The tactic, for such it is, since it does not take into account the support that Sinn Féin representatives receive back from party headquarters, is clever, since it can be contrasted with the overpaid, expenses-grabbing image offered all too often by the European Parliament.
Sinn Féin's enemies say it has been predicting disaster for decades for Ireland as a result of membership of the Union, and was wrong every time.
Believing itself to be a latter-day Cassandra, Sinn Féin says the allegation is ridiculous. Changes for the worse have happened, but the public simply has not noticed them.
The party argues that it favours co-operation between member-states, but not the creation of "a powerful super-state" run from Brussels, but controlled by the bigger member-states.
"We want to build a Europe of equals - a true partnership of equal sovereign states, co-operating in social and economic development in Europe and beyond," says the party's detailed manifesto.
The upcoming EU constitution must satisfactorily deal with a few issues, including the continuation of Ireland's veto on taxes if Sinn Féin is not to campaign against it.
It says it supports "the streamlining of existing treaties to make them more accessible".
"However, while the present draft EU constitutional treaty proposes big changes, it does not do all we need it to do and it is not a charter for an EU of equals," the manifesto states.
The EU constitution would also have to explicitly recognise the right of EU member-states to "national sovereignty and self-government", protect Irish neutrality and establish "the primacy of fair trade and the social economy over free trade".
In reality, of course, Sinn Féin's claim that its support for an EU constitution could somehow be won by the Taoiseach is nonsense.
For now, Sinn Féin can attach itself to a larger body of voters unhappy with the drift in Ireland's relations than it itself controls. Saying No is a much better, and simpler, political strategy for now.