“We need to treat climate breakdown like the emergency that it is”
Saoirse McHugh from Achill island is quickly making a name for herself since being nominated as the Green Party candidate for the Midlands North West constituency in next May's European Parliament elections.
The 28 year old received rapturous applause at the party convention for her no nonsense approach to tackling climate change.
“The situation is dire and our agriculture is most at risk,” she told The Connaught Telegraph.
“Insect populations are plummeting and once they’re gone we are next. Unpredictable weather patterns means food production is at risk. We can’t tip-toe about this anymore, it’s an emergency and we have to start treating it like one.”
The Green Party has launched a number of new local candidates across the country with a view to building their grassroots, decimated in 2011 after their coalition with Fianna Fail.
Saoirse McHugh wasn’t old enough to vote in 2007 and believes the issues are too urgent to squabble over previous politics. “Too often we look backwards in Irish politics, we vote for someone so someone else doesn’t get in. I’m asking people to look to the future, decide on what Ireland they want rather than what they don’t want. Without a clear vision as to where we’re going then how can we ever get there?”
Holding a masters in sustainable agriculture and having worked on various agricultural projects across the world, McHugh believes farming can hold the key to our resilience.
“The current system is not working for the small farmers of this region, in most cases the income can’t support a family. Farm numbers are decreasing as only the industrial scale model is profitable.
“This is highly mechanised so doesn’t create many jobs and then what are we left with? Our towns and villages emptying out, small businesses closing up, young people emigrating.
“Small farmers will be hardest hit by climate change and if they are not being supported the whole area will suffer greatly. Other countries are adjusting to low carbon economies and it is boosting employment in rural areas, this could be the making of rural Ireland but we have to be ahead of it, not catching up.”
The surprise candidate is well aware of the challenge of winning a seat in the Midlands North West, a constituency which sprawls from Achill head to Malin head all the way across to county Louth.
“It’s enormous and has a wide range of issues. I’m starting from scratch in terms of profile so I have to just get at it. I’ve been canvassing across Mayo already and the response has been really positive.
People, young and old, are genuinely worried about the inaction on climate change. It’s becoming clear that the children of today will have to pick up the tab for what’s happening now and that’s just not fair.”