FG MEPs meet community groups and politicians to support EU funding programmes in Northern Ireland

Fine Gael MEPs Sean Kelly, Mairead McGuinness and Deirdre Clune have today (Friday) concluded a successful day of meetings with community groups and politicians to support EU funding programmes in Northern Ireland.

Sean Kelly MEP said: “It was an honour to meet people from both sides of the community in Northern Ireland and to see first-hand the great work they do for their communities. We can never take peace for granted; it takes a lot of hard work and effort to make peace permanent. It is the volunteers in communities across Northern Ireland who are making one of the greatest contributions to this effort. They must continue to be supported at European level.

“People have to see the benefits of peace in their daily lives and in their communities. I am very glad the EU has supported these goals and Fine Gael is committed to advocating this in the European Parliament.

“We had very constructive meeting today with political and community leaders which focused on addressing legacy issues such as parades, flags and identity, in a spirit of compromise and solidarity, in order to achieve the common goal of lasting peace.”

“We will be bringing today’s experiences back to the European parliament and to the European Commission President-elect Juncker and key senior EU officials so that the appropriate political priority is given to the Peace Process at the highest levels in the EU.”