A native of Mount Temple, Cunniffe was a late addition to the Fianna Fáil ticket in Westmeath to stand with the party's two deputies in the constituency.

Local communities are being ignored by central government and misrepresented by the media. Independent candidacy isn’t enough, which is why I’m running for Fianna Fáil, to create a sea-change and revive community activism within the party’s culture. As an Athlone native, I support the injunction against the government’s plan to house 1,000 single males in our community without any consultation.

The greatest issue is the government's handling of immigration and ministerial orders granting permission to IPAS centers—injecting vast numbers of people into communities with insufficient housing, healthcare, and services, all while systemically ignoring local voices and even local councillors from mainstream parties.

My first speech in the Dáil will lobby for mandatory community consultations and community backstops before any major projects are forced through. I support the Fianna Fáil of yesteryear, that aimed for decentralisation and prioritised grassroots activism. We need to put power back in the hands of the people.