Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South, Kathleen Funchion, has said she will stand up for ordinary workers and families in the European Parliament.
Her comments came at the end of her first week in the Parliament, where she has been appointed to the Regional Development Committee, the Employment Committee and the FEMM (Women’s Rights) Committee.
Speaking today, MEP Funchion said:
“I am looking forward to working on these three key committees, to ensure that the best possible decisions are made for people at home in the Ireland South constituency. I will stand up for the voices of ordinary workers and families and fight to ensure they get the investment and prioritisation they need.
“On the Regional Development Committee I will fight for regionally balanced investment that ensures communities across Ireland get fair opportunities and funding. Too many parts of our country feel they have been left behind and lack crucial infrastructure that is long overdue. I know that balanced investment is the key to unlocking Ireland’s potential and will ensure no community is left behind.
“I will also work to ensure all-Ireland initiatives are progressed. Across the island, there is a growing, positive conversation about Irish unity and constitutional change.
“I am also pleased to be working on the Employment Committee, a key committee for protecting workers’ rights. As a former trade unionist, I have a strong track record fighting for workers’ rights. I will ensure that Irish workers’ interests are front and centre in the committees’ work. This must include standing up for collective bargaining rights and fair wages.
“On the FEMM Committee which oversees development of women’s rights, I will be a strong voice for gender equality. In the Dáil, I was a committed champion of survivors of the Mother and Baby Homes as they fought for justice. As a TD, I also campaigned for childcare costs to be cut to affordable levels for families. I will continue to work on important issues of gender equality, to ensure that women’s rights are protected and enhanced.
“This week, I and my colleague Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan, hit the ground running in Strasbourg. During the election campaign, I pledged to work hard, day and night, to stand up for the people of Ireland South and make a real difference on the issues that matter to their daily lives. That is exactly what I am determined to deliver.”
