Left-wing parties to take EU power

Parties of the left, including Sinn Féin, will be the largest single group in the next European Parliament, taking power from centre right parties that include Fine Gael, according to the latest poll.

However, a whopping 29% of the seats could be taken by parties that are critical of or opposed to the European Union who are poised to take seats from the three big political groups that between them hold close to three-quarters of the seats at the moment.

Ireland loses one of its 12 seats in this election and, according to predictions, this will result in Fine Gael winning three rather than their current four seats in the new, bigger constituencies.