Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch has confirmed he will run in Dublin Central in the upcoming election.

The 61-year-old is to lodge papers this week when he arrives back from Lanzarote.

He's currently out on bail on the Spanish island, while under investigation for alleged money-laundering offences.

He told the Sunday Independent he will be the "people's choice".

Hutch will be standing against a number of high-profile sitting TDs in the Dublin Central constituency, including Sinn Féin party leader Mary Lou McDonald and Fine Gael's Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohue.

The other two sitting TDs in the area are Gary Gannon for the Social Democrats and Nessa Hourigan of the Green Party.