‘FF poised to win three seats, but SF to lose one’

FIANNA Fáil is set for big gains in the European elections, according to analysis complied by the European Parliament.

Ireland will have two extra MEPs after May’s vote as a result of Brexit, meaning all the main parties are eyeing up potential gains.

But the European Parliament believes Micheál Martin will be the happiest party leader, with Fianna Fáil expected to win three seats, while Sinn Féin will actually lose one of its three seats.

The parliament plans to publish bi-monthly polls on a country-by-country basis in a bid to predict the make-up of the next parliament.

The first of these polls already shows a drastic shift, suggesting the two groups currently controlling the parliament will no longer commend a majority.

Fine Gael’s European People’s Party is expected to lose seats, although not in Ireland where Leo Varadkar’s party should hold onto its four. The parliament is predicting two Independents will win seats while it also sees potential for an Independent Alliance candidate.

Nessa Childers, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Marian Harkin are currently independent MEPs for Ireland.

At 6pc in opinion polls, the Labour Party is also offered some hope of taking a seat. It has selected former minister Alex White as its candidate for the newly enlarged Dublin constituency. The poll suggests that the Green Party, Social Democrats and Solidarity/People Before Profit will not make an impact.