Gerry Adams has launched Sinn Fein's European election campaign push with a pledge to tackle vested interests supporting "big business".

Speaking at an event in Dublin, Adams said his party offered an alternative to the other Irish and Ulster-based parties.

And as the only party fielding candidates across the island of Ireland, Sinn Fein said it said that it offered Irish people "truly national representation in the EU parliament for the first time".

Bairbre de Brun, who has also been elected to the suspended Belfast assembly, is standing as the party's candidate in Ulster.

"Sinn Fein is the only all-Ireland party standing candidates in all five constituencies on the island with the ability to win seats on both sides of the border," said Adams.

"By electing Sinn Féin representatives, the people of Ireland can have truly national representation in the EU parliament for the first time.

"Sinn Fein is working to bring about real change, in the peace process, in local communities and in presenting a viable alternative to the present direction of the European Union."

The party said it remained committed to the peace process and building for Irish unity.

But it vowed to "take on those vested interests who want a federal Europe to act in the interests of big business".

And Adams criticised attempts to secure a deal on the EU constitution, which it said could threaten Ireland's traditional stance of neutrality.