Smaller parties:There are three small, registered parties, as well as other political groups, running several candidates in this election. Registered parties have their logo on official election literature and can be eligible for a political broadcast if standing in seven constituencies or more.
Basic criteria for qualifying as a political party include having over 300 members, all over 18 and at least half of those must be registered to vote. There is also a 21-day appeal period before registration can be confirmed, meaning that while the People Before Profit Alliance was recently registered as a party, it came too late for this election.
• The Christian Solidarity Party(Six candidates in seven constituencies)
Emerging from the anti-abortion movement, the Christian Solidarity Party was founded in 1991. With a membership of 350, it is running candidates in seven constituencies, with one, Colm Callanan, standing in Laois-Offaly and Westmeath-Longford. This is down on the 19 candidates it ran in 2002.
"It's much harder to get people who are willing to run," admits the party's leader, and Dublin Central candidate, Paul O'Loughlin. He says its major challenge is getting media attention. "They think that we're small and not going to get anywhere and they don't take us seriously."
While a party of "Christian values", he says the CSP is not a single-issue party. "We have policies on health, crime, Europe, defence, agriculture, industry."
• The Workers' Party(Six candidates)
Emerging from the Sinn Féin split of the 1970s, the Workers' Party had electoral success, until further splits led to the formation of Democratic Left in 1992. Its candidates in this election include Cllr John Halligan in Waterford.
"In 1997, most political parties had three or four press conferences," observes director of elections, Padraig Mannion. "Now there are press conferences every morning. Small parties can't compete with that. We have one press launch and that's it." The left-wing party hopes to challenge for the last seat in Waterford and to consolidate in other constituencies.
"We'd think there is more need than ever for a different sort of politics. The idea that there is no ideological difference between two major coalitions is incredible. The debate now is over who is best manager."
• The Socialist Party(Four candidates)
The publicity and support attracted by Dublin West TD Joe Higgins, and Dublin North Cllr Clare Daly, leave the party with a realistic hope of having two of its four candidates in the Dáil.
Founded in 1996, out of the water charges protests, it has 400 members in the Republic.
"We have a whole array of networks built up on back of campaigns," says national organiser Kevin McLoughlin.
"It means we now have something other parties don't, which is hundreds of people who will drop leaflets, although they aren't party members. He is buoyant about this campaign. "We're not cocky, but feel we have a real chance to get elected in two constituencies. In the other areas it would take a bit of a leap to get elected, but we feel we'll put down a marker for the next general election and consolidate our positions there."
• The Fathers Rights-Responsibility Party(Eight candidates)
Not a registered party, although this is a bone of contention for the group which has applied for registration but claims it has been "denied" this.
"We had 11 candidates ready to run, but three pulled out after the registration," says Liam Ó Gógáin, a candidate in Dublin South. "But they held back as a mark of protest. What will not be available is the emblem of the party on the election literature. The other thing registration brings is a sense of legitimacy."
FRR campaigns on issues of equality, growing from what it argues are injustices against fathers within the courts system. "While other parties have policies for women, not one single party has a corresponding document for men. Given that this is European Year of Equal Opportunities, what is the future for men in this society?"
• The Immigration Control Platform(Three candidates)
The Immigration Control Platform, which ran two candidates in the 2002 election, has three standing this time. It has not applied for political party status.
A single-issue party, it believes its number of members - which it won't disclose - doesn't reflect the depth of feeling on the issue.
PRO Áine Ní Chonaill says: "We represent Joe Soap, and he wants to wash the car take the dog for a walk, go for a pint. And that's the perennial difficulty. So no matter what our size is, it wouldn't reflect the genuine concern of the population in general."
She says the party hopes to receive sufficient votes "to give a wake-up call to the politicians. Having said that, if they're honest, they'll already know from the doorsteps it is a worry."
• People Before Profit Alliance(Five candidates)
Formed in 2005 as an alliance of people involved in various campaigns, including the Shell to Sea protest, the anti-war movement and anti-bin tax campaigns, it has recently registered as a political party but not in time to feature on ballot papers.
"A lot of the people involved in these campaigns feel unrepresented by the mainstream parties who have failed to back them properly," says Rory Hearne, a candidate in Dublin South East.
"The idea is to also represent a new type of politics in Ireland which is about people power and people mobilising on the ground.
"We want to end the dominance of Irish politics by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. We're campaigning on the basis that, if elected, we are not going to support either Enda Kenny or Bertie Ahern. We will go into Opposition."
The party is hoping for success in Dún Laoghaire, where Richard Boyd Barrett is standing.
