TY EU Studies students attended a Zoom call with MEP Ciaran Cuffe . This was an engaging question and answer session. Topics included democracy, climate change, farmer protests, plastic packaging, young voters as well as his work as a MEP.
MEP Ciarán Cuffe meet with us on a zoom call .
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Who is Ciarán Cuffe?
Ciarán Cuffe is an Irish politician and one of the thirteen Irish members of the European Parliament (MEP). He is also a member of the Green Party. He helps to write laws that help improve the lives of 450 million people living in the EU. On Wednesday the 30th of January TY students got the opportunity to listen to him speak about his work in the EU and ask him some questions along with eight other schools from across Ireland.
What did we find out about Ciarán Cuffe’s work?
Ciarán Cuffe told us so much about his work as an MEP. He spoke about a new law that came in this week that will make the water in Dublin Bay clean enough to swim in. He’s spent that last three or four years working on making buildings greener. He hopes to help make it cheaper to heat and cool buildings. He is also a member of the Transport and energy committee. He needs to travel to Brussels often, so he tries to take the train and ferry as often as possible, instead of flying.
Question And Answer Session
Q-1 Do you believe the EU laws about plastic packaging are ambitious enough?
This question was asked by another school on the call. Ciarán Cuffe answered that he does not think they are ambitious enough as every law is a compromise made with enterprises that may be affected by the laws. He thinks they are helping to slowly reduce the increase of plastic use, but we should write to MEPs about the issue so more action is taken.
Q-2 How did you become a politician?
This question was also asked by another school, Ciarán Cuffe answered by telling us that he originally studied architecture but became interested in helping communities when the government started building more roads in Dublin City instead of investing in public transportation. He protested and made buttons that said ‘Trams not Jams’. He then became a counsellor and started his career in politics.
Q-3 What would you say to young people voting in EU elections?
This was a question from St.Joseph’s, Ciarán Cuffe’s advice was to definitely cast your vote, as it can make all the difference! He said to consider your political beliefs, and question politicians on their beliefs before casting your votes.
Q-4 What is the biggest challenge for Europe?
This was also a question from St.Joseph’s. Ciarán Cuffe said the size of the wars happening nowadays was one of the biggest challenges, along with protecting citizens. He said the most important challenge to the EU at the moment was the threat to democracy, as we know democracies are more peaceful, experience higher economic growth and lower poverty rates, protect the environment, provide more clean water, have higher life expectancies, and see more equitable distribution of education, so this is definitely a more important issue
The class look forward to meeting Mr Cuffe in person.
By St.Joseph’s, Rush - TY European Ambassadors class