Thursday, 30 May 2024, Dublin Next week, nearly 450 million citizens across Europe will go to the polls from the 6-9 June, in Ireland we’ll vote on Friday 7 June. European Movement Ireland, in co-operation with the European Parliament Liaison Office, this evening hosted the European Elections Dublin Constituency Town Hall in The Alex Hotel.
The panel discussion was moderated by Flor MacCarthy of Oireachtas TV and featured; Prof. Gavin Barret, UCD Sutherland School of Law and Jean Monnet Professor of European Constitutional and Economic Law, UCD, John Lee, Executive Editor at the Daily Mail Group Ireland, Prof. Gary Murphy, School of Law and Government DCU and Alison O’Connor, Columnist with the Sunday Times.
The panel discussed topics such as the role of the European Elections, the impact of the European Parliament in our daily lives, and the role of voters in shaping our future. Following the discussion, MEP candidates presented a “1-minute pitch” on why they are seeking election and the audience participated in a Q&A session with the candidates.
Speaking ahead of the event, Noelle O Connell, CEO European Movement Ireland said; “The European Parliament is the only directly elected EU Institution. Every five years voters have the unique opportunity to choose which MEP candidates represent them. With just over a week to go until the elections, the Dublin Townhall gives voters the opportunity to engage with their MEP candidates shortly ahead of polling day.”
The Dublin Constituency holds 4 of the 14 seats allocated to Irish MEPs in the European Parliament, with 23 MEP candidates competing to represent the people of Dublin in Strasbourg and Brussels. This constituency covers the smallest geographical area of the three EU constituencies (Ireland South and Midlands Northwest) which includes Fingal, Dublin City, South Dublin, and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
This event is part of European Movement Ireland’s Can Vote, Will Vote campaign, which aims to increase voter participation. Turn-out in the 2019 EU elections in Ireland was 49.7%, a drop in comparison to the 2014 turnout of 52.44%, and lower than the European average of 50.66%.
The candidates registered to attend the event were;
Independent – Umar Al-Qadri
Fianna Fáil – Barry Andrews
An Rabharta Glas-Green Left – Robin Cafolla
Green Party – Ciarán Cuffe
Independents for Change – Clare Daly
Fine Gael – Regina Doherty
Social Democrats – Sineád Gibney
Independent – Conor Murphy
Irish Freedom Party – Diarmaid O’Conorain
Independent – Brendan Ogle
Labour – Aodhán Ó Riordáin
Independent – Stephen O’Rourke
As part of this campaign, EM Ireland have launched the European Elections Information Hub, the go-to website for non-partisan information on the EU elections. The Can Vote, Will Vote campaign is co-funded by the European Union and developed as part of the European Parliament’s Together.eu campaign.