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President's daughter Mary Alice Higgins will be candidate in the European elections

Senator Alice Mary Higgins. Picture by Sarah Doyle/PA Wire
Senator Alice Mary Higgins. Picture by Sarah Doyle/PA Wire Senator Alice Mary Higgins. Picture by Sarah Doyle/PA Wire

THE daughter of President Michael D Higgins has confirmed that she will contest next month's European elections.

Senator Mary Alice Higgins will stand as an independent in the Dublin constituency.

Ms Higgins (43) was nominated by 60 members of the public who gathered in Dublin this morning.

Candidates for European elections can be nominated by a political party, by paying a financial deposit or by gathering the signatures of 60 registered voters.

Ms Higgins said her method of nomination reflected what she wanted for the EU – "a more direct connection with the public".

"Europe is more than its institutions, it is made up of places and people and shared principles."

Ms Higgins has worked on her father’s presidential election campaigns, but insisted she had been involved in many other campaigns, such as those for same sex marriage, to repeal the eighth amendment and to liberalise divorce laws.

She said it would not be appropriate for her father to endorse any candidates.