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The Green Party has selected Senator Déirdre de Búrca to contest the European elections in the Dublin constituency next year.

The announcement was made following a selection convention in Liberty Hall this afternoon.

Ms de Búrca is the party’s spokeswoman on European Affairs. She is also spokeswoman on health and children, defence and  Gaeltacht affairs.

Former Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna held the seat for the party for two terms from 1994, losing out in the 2004 election.

Ms de Búrca said she was confident the Greens could regain the seat.

“The EU has shown excellent leadership on issues close to Green Party hearts such as human rights and environmental protection and has shown itself to be an international leader on climate change,” she said.

“The Greens in Europe have been at the centre of this movement. I feel it is important that the Irish Green Party is part of the progressive politics that are happening now at an EU level.”