Ciaran wants to tackle the BIG issues at European Parliament level. Backed by Michael Fitzmaurice TD, he will be a strong independent voice in Brussels to ensure allocated EU funding is directed fairly to save the region outside of Dublin from further significant job losses and to fight for balanced urban and rural development across the entire Midlands-North West constituency.
A Truly Just Transition
The workers , families, communities and businesses who have been impacted by the closure of Bord na Mona and ESB Network's facilities in the midland's deserve a truly just transition. One that doesn't place undue burden on the communities affected.
The closure of Lanesboro/Ballyleague and Shannon Bridge's peat burning facilities has had a serious impact on the communities they are located in and with knock on affects across the whole region. Having worked in this sector for 3 years and with 30 years of experience in the voluntary sector, Ciaran knows that matching funding and the red-tape that applicants face is unfair. Read about my plan here: Mullooly - Community bridging finance proposal
FArming & Agri-Business
Ciaran Mullooly has dedicated his career and life to living and working in rural Ireland, gaining a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by the farming and agri-business sector. With over 137,000 people employed in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, this sector remains a vital cornerstone of Ireland's economy. Ciaran’s hands-on experience and commitment to rural communities make him uniquely positioned to advocate for farmers and agri-businesses at a European level.
Collaborating closely with Michael Fitzmaurice TD, a steadfast advocate for farming and agri-business in Irish politics for the past decade, Ciaran is committed to securing the best deals for our farmers and small operators. His work with Michael Fitzmaurice has given him valuable insights into the policy and strategic needs of the sector, ensuring that their voices are heard and their interests protected. If elected to the European Parliament, Ciaran will fight tirelessly to ensure that rural Ireland continues to thrive. His goal is to create sustainable growth and opportunities, championing the cause of small operators and ensuring that the agricultural sector receives the support it needs to prosper. Ciaran Mullooly’s dedication to the farming community is unwavering, and he is committed to making a tangible difference for the future of agri-business in Ireland.
Community Development
As a community development volunteer throughout the Midlands and West for over 30 years, Ciaran has had firsthand experience of the burn-out involved in navigating the red-tape to access EU funding.
He has shared a vision for improving the quality of life and developing new facilities with Lough Ree Angling Hub, Roscommon Lions Club, Ballyleague & Lanesborough Area Men's Shed Group, Rathcline GAA Club, Ballyleague Village Renewal & Tidy Towns, Longford County Tourism Committee, the Midlands Samaritans Fashion Show at AIT, Lions Club International/Lions Club of Ireland, Lough Ree Bay Tennis Club, Athlone Lions Club, the Athlone Marconi Heritage committee and Lough Ree Area Community Co-Op & Amenity Groups.
As founder of the award-winning Lough Ree Access For All social enterprise project, Ciaran also contributed to providing access on a specially-designed boat to the waterways for people with disability and mobility issues.
Scrutinising Euopean Legislation
For decades, MEPs from Ireland have treated the EU parliament as a stepping stone to a commissionership, neglecting to do the work of legislating for their constituents.
Ciaran understands the job he looking to get: legislate! We need watchdogs in Europe not lapdogs, scrutinising legislation to inform constituents and elected representatives at home of what is coming down the line because sadly, as has been seen with the Habitats Directive, it can be 20 years before legislation out of Europe has truly unexpected but very foreseeable implications for the people of Ireland.