Today I left the European Parliament for the last time as an MEP. While I’m really looking forward to my new role, I will miss my work in Europe in many ways.
Over almost six years I’ve had the honour of representing a vast Irish constituency that contains many different (but all brilliant) communities; I’ve got to work with fantastic colleagues particularly Lynn Boylan, Liadh Ní Riada and Martina Anderson and I’ve been privileged to have worked alongside the most dedicated, loyal and hard-working staff based in both Brussels and Ireland. I’ve made some great friends in GUE/NGL and worked in solidarity with the people of Palestine, the Basque Country & Catalonia and oppressed peoples across the world.
I’m proud of my work in defence of Irish family farmers & our rural communities, of our stand against corporate tax avoidance, of our campaigns against vulture funds and in opposition to dangerous EU trade deals.
I’m especially proud that our efforts helped defeat the British government’s intention to harden the border in our country and that we helped put Irish interests at the heart of the Brexit process.
Sinn Féin will have a new voice in the European Parliament soon and I am confident that our work will continue and that the people of the Midlands North West will continue to have top class representation at EU level.
But, for me, this is the end of an important part of my life. I will be forever grateful to those who gave me the opportunity to be a MEP and especially to those who voted for me in 2014 & 2019 and to my family who supported me every step of the way. I expect the experience I’ve garnered along the way will be hugely beneficial to me in my work at Dáil level.
It’s time now to start the next chapter...

‪Hugely uplifting experience to chair the SF 6county Cuige AGM in Belfast today. Particularly proud to meet up with Michael Doherty, brother of Hunger Striker Kieran Doherty who was a former Cavan Monaghan TD and an inspiration to me.‬
‪#UnitedIreland ‬

‪The labour court ruled in 2008 that CE supervisors were entitled to better conditions. It is a disgrace that FF & FG governments have ignored that ruling since. I was proud to join these critical community workers at their demonstration in Dublin today and to meet reps from Cavan Monaghan.‬