Michael Leahy's EU election fundraiser 2024

My name is Michael Leahy I'm an Architect and Planner by profession. I set up practice in 1986 and have long experience of running a business and as an employer. I am the former President of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce and was a board member for Bord Pleanála from 2012 to 2017. I have strong involvement in the local community including charitable and cultural groups. And I'm passionate about rural regeneration and making it affordable for people to access the housing market.

I'm raising money for this EU parliament election because I believe it's vital that we wrestle back control of our nation from the unelected bureaucrats in Brussels. In that spirit, I will use this campaign to advance the following issues:

(1.)END MASS MIGRATION: Open doors migration has forced young Irish people out of the housing market. Ireland has a derogation on immigration under the Lisbon treaty and we will insist on enacting it. Ireland is Full.

(2.)PROMOTE SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS: Small businesses are drowning in a sea of regulation, with complex reporting requirements, and unending state interference. We will review EU directives to corporates. We will defend the use of cash and resist mandatory digital currencies. The rates burden on small business needs to be reduced.

(3.)PROMOTE LOCAL IRELAND AND PROTECT FARM INCOMES: Agriculture is under attack, and food prices are going through the roof. We will fight to repeal MERCOSUR, the cattle cull and unfair trade practices in the meat industry. Europe's food supplies must be protected. EU directives have made the planning system too complex. We will make it work for ordinary people who want to live in their own area.

(4.)DEFEND FREE SPEECH:

Ireland's "hate speech" laws have caused alarm worldwide. EU directives must not be used to gag free speech. Without open debate, democracy dies.

(5.)DEFEND IRISH NEUTRALITY:

The role of neutral Ireland is to act as an honest broker between the main powers to bring an end to conflicts like Ukraine. The EU is not NATO.

(6.)END THE ZERO CARBON AGENDA:

Too rapid an energy transition, with carbon taxes and fuel levies, harms food production, farmers' livelihoods, industry and business. It also drives inflation and cost of living increases. We support alternative energies but will promote a sensible European energy policy that will protect ordinary people.