Mullooly: “A monthly, one-hour radio show could rebuild trust in European project”

Ahead of the European and local elections on Friday, Ciaran Mullooly, Independent Ireland’s candidate for Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in the Midlands-North-West constituency, has called for a portion of the license fee monies used to support local radio stations to be ring-fenced to ensure MEPs can keep their constituents informed about what is happening in Europe.

During his extensive eight-week campaign across the vast constituency, Mullooly has heard a common complaint from constituents: they rarely, if ever, see or hear from their MEPs between election cycles: “This absence fosters disillusionment and distrust in the political system and whether it is working for constituents, a concern which will inevitably appear during every European election". Mullooly says the anger amongst voters is palpable: "They feel abandoned."

Mullooly claims the initiative will ensure that every constituent in the 15-county Midlands North-West constituency will have access, through the public airwaves, to hear updates from all their MEPs: “I believe in public service broadcasting, and with 70% of domestic legislation originating in one form or another in the EU, it has never been more important for voters to know what exactly their MEPs are doing to protect their interests. I don't think that's too much to expect?”

"When you only see or hear from an MEP every five years, it's no wonder people feel disconnected and disheartened," said Mullooly, continuing: “By curating these broadcasts through local radio stations, MEPs won’t get free reign to promote their own agenda, rather they can be held to account by journalists and broadcasters. Ensuring listeners get the facts, not the fiction.”