On Monday after the Fine Gael Ard Fheis, UCC Young Fine Gael had a walk about in Cork City for Sean Kelly, a Fine Gael candidate in Ireland South. One member of the public asked to meet Sean Kelly, he was introduced. What was his question? Go on take a guess.
Can you get me a house?
Yes, in typical Irish fashion, his question was on the housing lists which plague this country. This is something so sitting or prospective MEP can do anything about as it has nothing to do with them. Sean Kelly tried to explain this in vain, but I think he failed.
This shows yet again the EU, national parties and the European Parliament has failed to let ordinary people know what it is responsible for. Time and time again during the Lisbon Treaty referendum debate I spent my time explaining what the European Parliament does and doesnt do, on my blog, in chat rooms and on the canvass. Some times i get through and sometimes I don’t. But as soon someone said at the weekend “If you have to explain, you’ve lost” (or something to that effect)
There needs to be a more co-ordinated effort to get the basic information about the EP across, otherwise European isssues will never be a factor in European Elections, and that is Europe’s failure.
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What do you think would be the question of the same person to the representative of a national political party? Don’t know about Ireland, but from my angle I would expect similar question :D…
It would be the xact same question Tanja, except that person would be able to do something. OF course the problem in Ireland is that the local elections, which do decided housing lists, are on at the same time as the EP elections so there is a bit of confusion out there I think
I also think that a person would be able to do stg especially because national aspect is closer to her/him. I think that it is kind of “natural” that people are more aware of local/national sphere because they can imagine and possibly influence it. But at the same time I agree with you that there’s a lot of confusion and that people do not really imagine what actually EU does. Maybe the real policies, the ones that people actually live should be presented, for example social and employment policies, etc…
as usual Tanja, you hit the nail on the head!
I wish I would hahahaha…, I guess I just like to debate with you ;). Wanted to write a small observation from Ireland, but maybe we should have this conversation in live-so hopefully we can do it once :))))