In December 2024, I was pleased to join a group of Limerick Fine Gael representatives on a visit to the European Parliament in Brussels, hosted by Seán Kelly MEP.
The visit was later covered by the Limerick Post and included Councillors Tom Ruddle, Sarah Kiely and Dan McSweeney, along with myself as a former Fine Gael local election candidate in Limerick City West.
For me, the value of the visit was not simply being in Brussels. It was about seeing more clearly how decisions made at European level connect back to communities, businesses, farms, local authorities and families at home in Limerick.
Over the course of the visit, we had an opportunity to engage with EU officials, Irish representatives and members of the Fine Gael delegation. The discussions covered areas including agriculture, the energy transition, EU funding, the single market, regional development and how European structures can better support local communities.
One of the key themes that stood out to me was the importance of making Europe feel practical and relevant. EU policy can often seem distant from everyday life, but it has a real impact on local infrastructure, business supports, climate action, skills, enterprise, farming, education and community development.
As someone whose work is focused on skills, workforce development, lifelong learning and regional collaboration, I am particularly interested in how European policy and funding can support local ambition. Limerick has strong assets: a growing business base, excellent education providers, active communities and a proud tradition of public service. But we also need to make sure that national and European opportunities are understood, accessed and translated into practical outcomes on the ground.
The visit also reinforced the importance of relationships. Local representatives need strong connections not only within their own communities, but also with national and European decision-makers. When those links are working well, local concerns can be heard more clearly and local opportunities can be better supported.
I was grateful to Seán Kelly MEP and his team for hosting the visit and for creating space for serious discussion on how European policy connects with local priorities.