A former asylum seeker has joined the list of candidates for next year's local elections.
Nigerian-born Dr Taiwo Matthew is contesting a seat in Ennis, Co Kildare.
He said: "I believe I will get elected and that the community will be the better for it. Let's have a new face and let the people speak and make their choice."
Dr Matthew, who recently secured official residency in Ireland after living in the community for more than four years, said he did not consider himself an outsider.
"The community has been so good to me that without its support, I could not possibly have survived and lived here."
Dr Matthew said he thought he could bridge any gap between the Irish and ethnic communities in Ennis.
"When people don't know the other person, there is a tendency to have a fear of the unknown and that is one barrier that I hope to break down. We can overcome our weaknesses on each side."
Dr Matthew is currently studying two post-graduate programmes - at the Royal College of Surgeons and University College Dublin.
His prospects of securing election have been boosted by legislation allowing asylum seekers to vote in local elections.
Dr Matthew urged other non-nationals now in Ireland to contest next June's elections.
He declared: "We have so much diversity in Ireland now that we can harness it and take advantage of it to move ahead."