Mayo has four women running as candidates in 'Euro' election

Michelle Smith, The Neale, Ballinrobe, has been confirmed as an independent candidate in the European Parliament elections in the five-seat midlands north west constituency on June 7.

She brings to four the number of women from the county in the field, the others being outgoing MEP Maria Walsh (FG), Senator Lisa Chambers (FF) and Saoirse McHugh (Independent).

She stated: "I have a small accountancy practice and have eight years’ experience of being an award-winning tax consultant, having won the Irish Enterprise awards with EU Business News Magazine awards for three years in a row.

"I grew up in Armagh and moved with my parents to Mayo in the year 2000.

"I was a previous student of St Catherine’s College Armagh and Presentation College Galway.

"I am a proud mother, entrepreneur and have a sharp mind and a quick wit.

"My degree is in Accounting and Finance and I have diplomas in Business MGT and entrepreneurship, legal studies, and more recently a diploma in corruption in context: Social, Economic and Political dimensions.

"I have a huge experience in public speaking, being a live streamer to the world with road bowling.

"I decided to stand for MEP and represent the people of Ireland at EU level because the people of this country have been forgotten about when it comes to MEP representation in the European parliament and people have had enough, myself included.

"I am not going to Europe to make friends, I am going to Europe to fight for the right of the people working here past, present and future.

"The decisions made by current MEPs have been detrimental to the downturn of the income of the lower to middle class earners of this country.

"Being in my line of work I see myself negotiating with Revenue now on a weekly basis for a surge in debts building up as people are not meeting the tax liabilities.

"Small business owners in rural areas are facing decisions to close their doors and issues such as the EU migration pact will continue to see inflation rise to record levels across the EU which not only effects businesses but consumers also.

"In recent times I successfully conducted a protest in Ballinrobe facing online bullies, which was a turning point in terms of doing something democratically for the people in this country.

"People may have seen me on news platforms and on the recent documentary, 'Is Ireland full?' bringing a level-headed approach to the immigration crisis in this country."

She stated serving Irish MEP have one of the lowest attendance rates in the past five years and "there is no other job in the country that you would get paid for not turning up."

She stated: "The main parties of this country have let the people down, they have let the taxpayer down, they have let the hard-working families down and they are let themselves down with zero accountability or responsibility for their actions.

"I have had millions of views across my social media of providing information on numerous topics and one being attendance rates by MEPs, or lack of attendance I should say, and the feedback was anger and disappointment.

"If you continue to listen to the parties in coalition and vote them in be it in local, EU or general elections this country will be unrecognisable in a few years to come.

"I will be a stern, firm and empathic voice for the people of this country," she added.