Eleven years of work with voluntary community groups and the recent campaign I led with the Council for the West seeking the retention of Objective 1 status for deserving areas including Connacht/Ulster have shown me the need to be in a position to influence EU policy development.

As an independent MEP I will press for measures geared towards delivering genuine economic cohesion and closing the economic gap between Connacht/Ulster and the rest of the country. This must involve a serious role for the voluntary community sector in conjunction with an empowered local authority.

However, such long-term activity must be preceded by an unremitting campaign of pressure on the Government to deliver to Connacht/Ulster the fair share of national and EU funds which has been denied up to now. I have a record of ability to deliver in a voluntary capacity - I am now seeking a mandate from the people of Connacht/Ulster to continue to do so on a full-time basis.