Paschal Mooney - Bio - Vote Paschal Mooney your MEP June 5th!

Former Senator, award winning broadcaster and journalist, Paschal Mooney, has a strong personal commitment to the North and West. A native of Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, Paschal understands the specific challenges faced by the Border, Midlands and West region and the need for EU assistance. He will work hard to gain every advantage for the residents of the North and West and is determined to find European solutions to local concerns. He will fight to protect the farming and fishing industry and push for better job creation and tourism through EU support. He will also fight to protect Ireland's cultural, linguistic and national diversities within the European Union and for increased financial support for Irish Small and Medium Size Enterprises.

Paschal Mooney understands the specific challenges faced by smaller towns and rural communities and their need for a firm commitment from the EU. A former Councillor and Senator, Paschal Mooney will use his experience to make sure your voice is heard on the European stage. He has served on a number of European bodies including the Council of Europe and the WEU Parliamentary Assembly. He presented several reports to the Council of Europe including ‘Women’s Participation in Elections’ and ‘Europe’s response to Humanitarian Disasters’ in association with the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. He is co-author of ‘Women in Parliament’ now the benchmark publication acknowledging the role played by Irish women in the political process since the foundation of the State. The book is on the school curriculum.

Paschal was the first Irishman to be elected Chairman of the Council of Europe Human Rights Committee and has also served on the Joint House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Forum on Europe. This has allowed him to gain a valuable insight into the workings of the European Union and he will use this ability to gain every advantage for the residents of the North and West of Ireland. He is the Honorary President of Co. Leitrim Cómhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and a lifelong member of the Community Games, comparing the national Finals each year. Paschal was first elected to the Seanad in 1987 and retained his seat at each subsequent election until 2007. In April 2008, he was nominated to the position of Chairman of Fáilte Ireland North West, one of five Regional Tourism Boards in Ireland charged with promoting their regions and attracting tourists.

Paschal Mooney is an award winning journalist and broadcaster and has successfully documented the Irish experience abroad. The readers of the Irish Post newspaper in Britain voted him as the Outstanding Contributor to the Irish Community in 2007. He has also championed this issue during his political career and became a leading campaigner for the undocumented Irish in the USA as well as being the 'Voice of the Irish Disapora' in Seanad Éireann. Paschal is the third generation of his family to contribute to public service locally and nationally. His grandfather Andrew Mooney served as a member of Leitrim County Council from 1920-1943. His father, Joseph Mooney was a former member of the Seanad (1961-65) and Leitrim County Council. His late Mother, Eva Mooney, also served as a member of Leitrim County Council (1988-91). He is married to Sheila and they have five children.