EU elections - Meet the candidates

 John McGuirk rounds up his series of interviews with candidates seeking election to the European Parliament by talking to accountant and businesswoman Michelle Smith, running an energetic but (according the polls) long shot campaign in Midlands North West

Senior Counsel UNA MCGURK talks to John McGuirk about what it was like to be "cancelled" for her views on the Covid 19 pandemic, why she's worried about national sovereignty, and why she's running on a shoestring budget for the EU Parliament.

"Covid was a profound political shock for me.. that did change how I view the role of the state and politics" - Michael McNamara discusses his journey from the Labour Party to being one of Ireland's most outspoken Independents, and why he's now running for the European Parliament

In the latest in his interviews of EU candidates, John McGuirk talks to Niall Boylan about whether Independent Ireland is really a political party; Why he'd turn the boats in the Mediterranean around; Why he's for peace in Ukraine; and whether supporting farmers comes at the expense of Dubliners.

John meets Stephen O'Rourke, an independent candidate seeking an EU parliament seat in Dublin, to talk about immigration, mental health, drug addiction, and what it's like being a small independent candidate trying to get a message out in a crowded field.

In the latest in his candidate interview series ahead of the June 7th local and EU elections, John McGuirk chats to Derek Blighe, leader of the new Ireland First party. They discuss what it means to be "far right", what to do about energy, and much more:

Ahead of the June 7th EU elections, John McGuirk talks to long-shot Independent candidate for Ireland South Mary Fitzgibbon about whether she has a real chance to win, why she says we all need to have more children, and why reversing emigration is important to her as a parent.

Ahead of the June 7th EU elections, John McGuirk talks Independent candidate Peter Casey about why Ireland isn't neutral; why he plans to seek the Presidency again if elected; and what he thinks he can achieve as an MEP.

In the second of a series of interviews with candidates ahead of the June 7th EU elections, John McGuirk talks to the Irish Freedom Party's Hermann Kelly about leaving the EU; Why he would let most EU migrants already here remain; and why he's "an ecologist, not a green".

In the first of a series of interviews with candidates ahead of the June 7th EU elections, John McGuirk talks to Aontu leader Peadar Toibin about immigration, candidates, war, peace, farming, Palestine, and why he's going to personally run in two elections less than a year apart.