The Social Democrats have launched their campaign for the upcoming European and local elections as party leader Holly Cairns described the elections on 7 June as "an exciting time for the party".
"For the first time everyone in the country has opportunity to vote for the Social Democrats and we are excited for our chances," Ms Cairns said.
She added that the overwhelming message that candidates are getting on the doorstep is a "demand for change" in Irish politics.
The Social Democrats are running three candidates in the European elections.
Rory Hearne is standing in Midlands North West. Susan Doyle in Ireland South and Sinéad Gibney is standing in the Dublin constituency.
Ms Cairns described the European response to the situation in Gaza as "pathetic", adding that the three candidates would bring "really, really strong voices at European level".
She added that the party would not be supporting the re-election of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The party has also criticised RTÉ for "excluding" the party from two of the three upcoming televised debates for the EU election.
"It's extremely disappointing for a party our size with six TDs," Ms Cairns said, adding that she did not accept the decision and has written to RTÉ to express the party’s dissatisfaction.
The Social Democrats said that while the party understood that there were criteria that RTÉ had to adhere to across the elections, party members said it was a "blatantly unfair decision".
The EU candidates said it was an "absolute disgrace" that their voices would not be heard at the end of the campaign on the televised debates.
In a statement, RTÉ said it has adopted the same criteria from the 2019 elections with additional impartial and objective criterion to decide participation where more than eight candidates may qualify.
RTÉ said it has criteria in place to decide on representation in the debates in a fair way to all candidates.
None of the Social Democrats' three candidates for the European Elections are sitting TDs, councillors or incumbent MEPs.
