Fine Gael TD Mr Gay Mitchell has been selected by the party to contest the European Parliament elections in Dublin, in place of Ms Mary Banotti who is retiring after 20 years.
The formal selection of Mr Mitchell was made by hundreds of Fine Gael delegates last night, though some delegates appear unhappy that the party is running only one candidate.
Mr Mitchell's victory, though predicted, was made easier, perhaps, by the decision of former TD Ms Frances Fitzgerald and Ms Katherine Meenan to withdraw their names.
In his speech, Mr Mitchell said the June elections offered Fine Gael the opportunity to show the public that "it has regained its strength".
Rounding on EU critics, he said some have made "false and alarming claims" for years that Ireland was being sucked into an EU military alliance. "Here we are four treaties later and we are not in any common defence entity, European or otherwise," said the Dublin South Central TD, who also chair the Dáil's European Affairs Committee. "Why have these untruths gone unchallenged? It is time for a more mature debate on our security and defence needs, and those of Europe.
"These cynics say we have lost our sovereignty. They want to go back to 'the good old days' when our biggest export was our people," he declared.
Withdrawing from the race, Ms Fitzgerald said the party's executive council had decided to run one candidate with the best chance to maximise the first preference vote.
Ms Meenan said Mr Mitchell is "an outstanding candidate". His victory, she said, will show that Fine Gael has "come back" in Dublin.
Criticising the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, she said he had spoken of the need to re-engage the public's interest in the EU. Despite this, however, she said that Mr Ahern has cleared the way for the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Royston Brady to run.