Maria Walsh says ‘progressive MEPs’ are what's needed in Euro election

Mayo’s Maria Walsh has once again been selected to represent Fine Gael in the Midlands-North West constituency in the June European elections. Despite some controversy this week over her proposing and seconding at last weekend's convention in Athlone, the former Rose of Tralee has been chosen on a two-candidate ticket alongside first time candidate, former jockey and Dancing with the Stars champion, Nina Carberry. 

The Shrule native was first elected as MEP for the Midlands-North West back in 2019, and is looking to continue her stint in Brussels for another term.

Speaking to The Mayo News, the Fine Gael MEP said it was ‘a really exciting day to be put back on the Fine Gael ticket’.

“I still have a lot more people to work with and meet in the run up to June 7, but it was great to get that resounding support from the party,” said Ms Walsh.

When asked why she is running again, the former Rose of Tralee said the ‘first thing that comes to mind is the need to ensure that we have an EU mental health strategy delivered’.

Ms Walsh has been extremely vocal about the need for an EU mental health strategy, having once described it as a ‘crisis’.

“Mental health has been an incredible issue that I’ve been really focused on. The second leading cause of death right now in our EU for young people is death by suicide, which is an absolute tragic loss of life.

“I truly believe in an EU mental health strategy, essentially all member states working together to deliver the changes that need to happen, for us to elevate and increase our budgets at a national level, but we can’t do that unless all member states are also feeding into that,” she said.

Furthermore, Ms Walsh told The Mayo News that she believes having a ‘really strong experienced voice in the west of Ireland’ is a key reason in re-electing her.

“I’m five years on, I’m a very different candidate to what I was as the ‘retired rose parachute candidate’ that ran in 2019.

“With that experience working on initiatives like the upcoming redraw of the Common Agricultural Policy, the shift in change we have on renewables, so the development of the port of Galway, the fact we have so much more work to do in supporting the likes of ATU and TUS in terms of education and their footprint across the EU,” she explained.

Furthermore, Ms Walsh said she believes ‘progressive MEP’s’ are needed.

She added: “We need people who are sitting in the centre, who are not apart of this extremist both left and right, who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work, and I would hope the last five years certainly delivered and proved that track record, and now I'm really excited to hopefully get elected and lead for another five.”

See full interview with Maria Walsh in Tuesday's edition of The Mayo News.