Who is running in the European Elections 2024?
23 candidates will battle it out for the five seats in the Ireland South constituency in this year’s European elections on 07 June 2024.
The counties in the Ireland South constituency include Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford and Wicklow.
Ireland currently has 13 MEPs in the European Parliament.
The number of MEPs Ireland has in the next European Parliament will however increase to 14 after this year’s elections.
The current MEPs in the Ireland South constituency are Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael), Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fail), Seán Kelly (Fine Gael), Grace O’Sullivan (Green Party) and Mick Wallace (Independents 4 Change)
Irish and other EU citizens resident in Ireland and aged 18 or over can vote provided they register by 20 May 2024.
To make sure you are registered to vote in local elections, check www.checktheregister.ie
Grace O’Sullivan, Green Party: Incumbent MEP for Ireland South
My name is Grace O’Sullivan. I grew up and raised my three daughters in Tramore, Co Waterford, where I still call home.
Following a life of activism for Greenpeace International, I was elected as a Senator in 2016, and then to the European Parliament to represent Ireland South in 2019, becoming Waterford’s only ever MEP. I am also a surf instructor, ecologist and green entrepreneur.
I was the European Parliament’s lead negotiator for the EU’s 8th Environment Action Programme, setting out Europe’s ambitious environmental agenda to 2030. I have also worked tirelessly to protect our oceans from pollution and overfishing, standing up for small-scale fishers and securing financial support for Irish fishers in the wake of Brexit.
I have been a supporting voice for Palestine since I co-signed the Occupied Territories Bill in the Irish Seanad, and have since sat on the Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Palestine. I travelled to the West Bank in spring 2023 and continue to advocate for human rights and peace in the region.
As a member of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Mercosur, I have opposed and delayed this disastrous trade deal that would encourage further deforestation in the Amazon, and cripple Irish farming by allowing cheap produce from South America to flood the European market.
I am running again with 3 overarching priorities I want to tackle in the next Parliament term;
- Climate, Nature & Environmental Action: With my lifelong record in environmental activism and my experience as a Senator and MEP, I want to make sure climate, nature and environment remains high on Europe’s agenda. Since 2019 I have led the fight in Europe to protect our seas, to restore nature, for ambitious climate action, and to tackle toxic plastic pollution.
- Clean Energy, Zero Pollution, Zero Waste: We need to transition away from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy which is safe, secure and financially stable. We need to ensure our air, water and soil, on which we depend, is clean and healthy. We need to reduce waste in every part of the economy, especially toxic plastic waste.
- Social Justice and Wellbeing: Protecting the vulnerable and creating a more caring Europe is what drives me. I was the lead negotiator for laws that shift Europe’s measures of progress beyond GDP towards valuing human and environmental well-being.
Kathleen Funchion, Sinn Féin: TD for Carlow-Killkenny
Kathleen Funchion has been a Sinn Féin elected representative for 15 years serving as councillor, TD and Óireachtas Committee Chair.
Mother of two, Kathleen has a strong track record in standing up for workers and familiesas a former Trade Union organiser and Chair of the Committee on Children, Kathleen has championed workers’ rights and prioritised our children’s futures.
Ireland needs representatives like Kathleen Funchion in Europe who are not afraid to put Irish interests first; who will work tirelessly to champion local communities and deliver the change that people need.
Kathleen Funchion is asking the people of Ireland South to vote for real change, because change starts on June 7th with the European and local elections.
These elections are taking place at a time when Ireland is facing many challenges - a persistent housing crisis, a health service at breaking point, and a cost of living crisis. These elections are an opportunity for people to have their say on the change they want to see in their local community, throughout Ireland, and in Europe.
We have a government that is out of touch, that doesn’t understand the challenges ordinary people are facing, lacks the vision and capacity to address them, and wont stand up to the European Union when needed.
Kathleen Funchion and Sinn Féin will stand up for you; your community; and for Ireland.
"I am passionate about sorting out the housing crisis, standing up for communities and addressing the climate crisis in a way that is fair and supports people who want to play their part rather than punishing them.
“I am running in this election because I want to ensure the EU gets back to focusing on the things that matter to ordinary workers and families - the cost of living crisis; improving workers’ wages and conditions; and supporting, rather than hindering member states in addressing the climate crisis.
“My priorities include protecting Ireland’s voice and position in the EU; ending Von Der Leyen’s damaging leadership of the EU; and opposing the EU’s dangerous drift towards militarisation and defending Irish Neutrality.
“Ireland needs MEPs that put our fishing and farming industry back at the centre of EU negotiations; who don’t roll over when others attempt to weaken our voice, or remove our veto on Foreign Affairs and Defence.
“I will work to ensure the EU is once again a voice for peace, for human rights, and is proactive on Irish Unity."
This is a time of huge potential and opportunity for Ireland, a time of change.
If you want change however, you have to vote for it in the local and European elections and in the General Election when it comes. That means voting for Sinn Féin.
Beidh guth láidir ag Kathleen ar son na hÉireann i bParlaimint na hEorpa. Vótáil Sinn Féin.
Beartas ríomhphoist an Oireachtais agus séanadh. oireachtas.ie/ga/email-policy/
Oireachtas email policy and disclaimer. oireachtas.ie/en/email-policy/
All those seeking election in the Ireland South Constituency this year are:
- Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fáil)
- Grace O’Sullivan (Green Party)
- Seán Kelly (Fine Gael)
- Mick Wallace (Independents 4 Change)
- Kathleen Funchion (Sinn Féin)
- Paul Gavan (Sinn Féin)
- Niamh Hourigan (Labour)
- Susan Doyle (Social Democrats)
- Patrick Murphy (Aontú)
- John Mullins (Fine Gael)
- Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (Fianna Fáil)
- Cian Prendiville (People Before Profit-Solidarity)
- Eddie Punch (Independent)
- Derek Blighe (Ireland First)
- Ross Lahive (The Irish People)
- Una McGurk (Independent)
- Graham De Barra (Independent)
- Michael Leahy (Irish Freedom Party)
- Michael McNamara (Independent)
- Lorna Bogue (An Rabharta Glas)
- Christopher Doyle (Independent)
- Mary Fitzgibbon (Independent)
- Ciaran O'Riordan (Independent)
For more information, visit https://elections.europa.eu/en/how-to-vote/ie/
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