Name: Grace O’Sullivan
European Constituency: South
Preferred pronouns: She/Her
Party: Green Party
Have you held a previous elected position? Senator (currently)
What are your reasons for running?
Fight climate change and for a sustainable future, to bring Ireland closer to Europe, for peace, equality and transparency.
What parliamentary group will you sit with in the EP and why?
Greens/European Free Alliance group – the Green Party is a proud and long time member of the European Green Party and share their vision of a fairer greener EU.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing young people in Ireland and what do you intend to do about them?
Unemployment is still disproportionately felt by the youth of the EU, especially in southern Europe. I will support any push for an EU level social fund for employment access and retraining.
Mental health is a growing problem in a digitised age where loneliness seems to be becoming the default. Protection for young people online, and of their privacy and digital freedoms, will be aim of my work at EU level. I’ll also seek adequate resourcing of schemes to assist those in need.
Gender equality and elimination of gender and sexuality based violence and discrimination.
Access to education and in particular cross border educational opportunities
And of course Climate Change is the single biggest issue facing us all, but especially younger people who have caused less of this mess but will suffer the consequences disproportionately. Combatting it will inform every single thing I do.
What will you do to ensure funding for opportunities for young people (e.g. Erasmus & Youth Employment Initiative) is increased in the next Multi-annual Financial Framework?
I cannot make too many promises in this area – it will depend on committee assignments and more on how much I will be able to work on this area, but I will commit to continue the Green group’s proud record of supporting cross-border educational opportunities at every opportunity.
Any other comments?
If you want Green policies at the European level, you have to vote Green #1!
