Mark Garavan

I am delighted to announce my formal nomination as a Seanad Eireann candidate in the NUI constituency. I have been honoured to receive the support and well wishes of many people. In particular, I am pleased to number among those Kathy Sinnott MEP, Lelia Doolin, Donncha O’Connell, Dr Nollaig O Muirile, Fr Peter McVerry, Dr Jerry Cowley, Joe Murray of AFRI, Richard Douthwaite of FEASTA and Davie Phillip of the Cultivate Centre. 

I very much look forward to the campaign. The two issues of critical importance which I intend to raise are, first, the quality of our democracy and, second, the urgent need to combine our economic development with environmental and social sustainability. We need a democracy where good ideas and argument win out over vested interests. We also need to create a society that is civilized where people can co-exist with respect and dignity. 

I believe that Seanad Eireann can be a relevant forum within which these issues can be raised and debated. It is important that we have such a body where public argument can occur outside of partisan party politics. If elected, I pledge myself to continue in an honourable tradition of independent Senate voices.