Michelle Gildernew is an MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, a position she has held since 2017, having previously held a seat from 2001 to 2015. Her work primarily focuses on implementing anti-poverty measures in rural communities. She was also Agriculture and Rural Development Minister from 2007 to 2011.

There are a number of issues of equal importance. Irelands neutrality, climate actions, issues relating to workers rights, need to support farmers, addressing regional imbalance and the need to progress the conversation around the Irish Unity.

On neutrality, it is a position which has long stood in Irelands favour in terms of being viewed as impartial peace-builders globally, and that should be protected.

A real just-transition must be front and centre in policies to address the issue of climate change and its root causes. We need to go after the big polluters, and avoid penalising workers and families.

We need institutions that value and protect the rights of workers across the board; and that doesn’t pander to corporate interests at the expense of workers.

I hope to be a strong voice in advocating for a CAP that is fair to farmers, that is less complex and bureaucratic; and l will oppose EU trade deals that aren’t in Irish farmers interests, and that will have a negative impact on the wider agricultural industry.

All MEPs should be focused on ensuring regional imbalance is met with a solution focused approach, and looks to use all EU Programmes to address this issue. It’s particularly important for smaller towns and villages that are still struggling to recover from the austerity of a decade ago.

Finally, the debate on Irish Unity is well underway, and the EU has a significant interest in progressing that conversation, taking a more active role.

After these elections we will join the grouping that tallies most with our own aims and objectives. We want to work collaboratively to deliver for those that elect us, and that will be to the fore in our decision in this respect.

Rather than being a nodding dog, I will go to Europe and seek to stand up for Ireland and for the interests of the voters of Midlands-North-West. I will be a strong voice and hopefully part of a strong team that will go out and deliver for people in this area, focusing on the issues that matter to them most.

Midlands-North-West has the potential to be a counter-balance to Dublin, but remains undeveloped and undervalued. I want to see it prosper that allows the smaller towns and villages within it to realise their full potential after decades of neglect.