Seán Kelly is a member of the European Parliament for Ireland South. As a member of Fine Gael, Seán is in the European People’s Party which is by far the largest and most influential group in the European Parliament. Among the most active MEPs of the Parliament, Seán has been honoured as MEP of the Year for Research and Innovation in 2012 and 2020 and MEP of the Year for Digital Agenda in 2014. Seán is a former President of the GAA and former Executive Chairman of the Irish Institute of Sport.
Ensure the new CAP provides a fairer income for farmers in return for the top-quality.
Develop a European Green Deal that provides new economic opportunity for businesses, and secures a fair and just transition for all to a carbon-neutral economy.
Maintain an ambitious, fair, outward-looking EU trade policy to open up new markets for Irish products and services and drive entrepreneurship and innovation.
Deliver an EU digital strategy that improves regional connectivity, transforms work for people and businesses, and brings new opportunities for rural communities.
My policy work focuses on the areas of my main committees: industry, research, energy and trade. When a new law is proposed to the European Parliament, the committee of MEPs responsible for that policy area considers the proposal and works on any amendments it thinks are necessary. All MEPs can then debate and vote on these amendments.
My lead committee in the European Parliament is the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee. The ITRE Committee is one of the most active ones in the European Parliament, ranking near the top in terms of legislative files. As a result, the decisions taken in ITRE have a direct impact on the daily life of citizens and the European economy.
As the only Irish member on the International Trade Committee, international trade is a priority of mine. The chief responsibilities of the INTA Committee relate to the European Union’s common commercial policy and its external economic relations.
In 2020 I was appointed to the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO). The AFCO Committee’s work is of fundamental importance, relating to the institutional framework of the EU and the Treaties. My colleagues and I on AFCO are working on issues such as the constitutional evolution of the EU, on how to ensure the democratic accountability of the European decision-making process and the important Conference on the Future of Europe.
The Brexit vote was certainly a great disappointment to all of us that believe in the values of the EU project. However, this is the situation that we face, and it is one that will certainly prove to be extremely complex. The UK government’s vow from the offset to rule themselves out of both the Customs Union and the Single Market have left us in a position in which options for a post-Brexit arrangement are significantly narrowed.
