Brian Crowley (MEP, Fianna Fail).
Aged 35, he is one of the youngest members of the European Parliament. Born in Bandon, Co Cork, he has been a full-time political representative since nominated to the Seanad in February 1993. He was his party's spokesperson on Justice and Law Reform in the Seanad. Educated in Hamilton High School, Bandon, and UCC, he has been confined to a wheelchair since 1980 after an accident. He has worked as lead singer in a rock band, DJ in a local radio station, and sales manager in a printing company.
Gerard Collins (MEP, Fianna Fail).
Aged 60, he is from Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, and has been associated with FF politics since his days at UCD. He was first elected to the Dail in 1967 and remained a TD until 1997. He was a member of Limerick County Council from 1974-77. He has held the portfolios of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Posts and Telegraphs in FF governments, and was also minister of state for industry and commerce, and for the Gaeltacht, from 1969-70. He became an MEP in the 1994 election. Elected vice-president of the European Parliament last year.
John Cushnahan (MEP, Fine Gael).
Born in Belfast in 1948 and educated at Queen's University, Belfast, he was leader of the Alliance Party in the North from 1984-87. He served on the NI Housing Executive and was a member of the NI Assembly from 1982-86. In 1989 he sought nomination as a Fine Gael candidate in Munster for the European elections. As an MEP he has been particularly involved with regional policy and regional planning matters, and Third World issues. He is vice-president of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence policy.
Pat Cox (MEP, Independent).
Born in Dublin in 1952, he was brought up in Limerick and is a graduate of TCD. He lectured at the Institute of Public Administration, Dublin, from 1974-76, and at the University of Limerick from 1976-82. He worked as a broadcaster in RTE from 1982-86. He was general secretary of the PDs from 1986-89 and served as TD for Cork South Central from 1992-94. He was elected MEP as a PD candidate in 1989 and was re-elected when he ran as an Independent in 1994. He is president of the European Liberal Democrats Group and a member of the parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.
Paula Desmond (Labour).
Aged 35, she was born in Cork and is daughter of Eileen Desmond, the former Labour Minister and MEP. She was elected to Cork County Council in 1985 and re-elected in 1991. She was Cathaoirleach of the council in 1994-95. She qualified as a solicitor last year. She was chairperson of Labour's Women's National Council from 1989-91.
Jim Corr (Fine Gael).
Cork-born, he is aged 62 and has served on Cork Corporation for 26 years. He is deputy principal in Presentation College. He also taught in Africa for six years. He was twice Lord Mayor and served briefly as TD in Cork South Central in 1982. He is a director of the Cork Opera House and of Bord Gais. He was one of the founders of the LUTS programme which addressed the infrastructure needs of Cork City and its environs, and he founded the Sense of Cork festival in 1997.
Martin Ferris (Sinn Fein).
Aged 47, from Ardfert, Co Kerry, he is a member of the Sinn Fein ardchomhairle and was on the first Sinn Fein delegation to Downing Street. He spent 13 years in prison for republican activities, including 47 days on hunger strike in 1977. He was released in 1994 and since then has worked full-time for Sinn Fein.
Ben Nutty (Green).
Born in Co Dublin, he is aged 27 and is now based in Waterford. Graduated with a Master's Degree in European Studies from UCD where he first became involved with the Green movement. Has worked in the computer industry and as a teacher of computer studies. Former secretary of the Green Party in Dublin North. ail seat.
Stewart Luck (Natural Law Party).
Aged 39, from Kent, lived in Cork for last 10 years. Trained as town planner and worked with Inner London community groups. Now teaches Transcendental Meditation and promotes Natural Law solutions to problems. He contested last European Parliament elections and won 890 first preference votes.
Denis Riordan (Non-party).
With an address at Redgate, Co Limerick, lecturer in communications at Limerick Institute of Technology, litigant in constitutional court cases. Sought court order to prevent Government amending Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution last year following the Belfast Agreement. Supreme Court rejected his arguments.