In the 1983 Sinn Féin ardfheis, it was decided to contest the 1984 European Parliament election on a non-abstentionist basis, that is, elected Sinn Féin candidates in the 1984 European election would serve as Members of the European Parliament, not as TDs of a new revolutionary Dáil.
In 1983, Sinn Féin's annual conference decided to contest the 1984 European Parliament election without abstaining from participation. This meant that elected Sinn Féin candidates in the 1984 European elections would serve as members of the European Parliament rather than TDs in a new revolutionary Dáil.