In this interview, we speak with MEP Ciaran Mullooly, the newest member of the Disability Intergroup who also decided to join the Intergroup Bureau. Known in Ireland as a journalist and community volunteer, he has long campaigned for disability rights. In the European Parliament, he champions these issues through his work on the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union and the Regional Development Committee.
We discussed:
- Key policy priorities for persons with disabilities
- What the EU should do to ensure real access to accessible and affordable housing for persons with disabilities
- The role of EU funds in supporting the rights of persons with disabilities
Next phase of the Disability Rights Strategy: pushing for concrete actions
Question: You have stepped up as Disability Intergroup bureau member on behalf of Renew Europe Group. Based on the recent Parliament’s position for the next phase of the Disability Rights Strategy, what would you identify as key policy priorities for persons with disabilities, and how do you plan to push for these priorities to translate into concrete actions both at EU and national levels?
Answer : The key priorities for persons with disabilities must now be ensuring equal access to employment and training through the Employment and Skills Guarantee, accelerating the transition from institutional care to independent living with community-based supports and guaranteeing full accessibility across transport, housing, public services and digital environments.
Through my work as an MEP, I have made several substantive enquiries to the European Commission to ensure that every person with a disability in Ireland can access a Personal Assistant (PA), enabling independent living and full participation in employment. This is a matter of personal commitment that I continue to raise in Brussels, and which informs my approach to disability rights at EU level.
As the Disability Intergroup’s bureau member for Renew, I will push for concrete action through ringfenced EU funding, binding EU-wide accessibility and hiring standards and close engagement with national governments to deliver the next phase of the Disability Rights Strategy on the ground.
Pushing for real access to affordable housing for persons with disabilities
Question: Accessible and affordable housing remains one of the biggest barriers to independent living for persons with disabilities. As Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union, what concrete actions do you think the EU should prioritise to ensure real access to accessible and affordable housing for persons with disabilities across Member States?
Answer: Accessible and affordable housing is fundamental to delivering true equality and independent living for persons with disabilities across Europe. As Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis, I believe the EU must strengthen both its ambition and enforcement on accessibility in housing. First, we need binding accessibility standards for all new public and private housing, supported by clear monitoring and penalties where obligations are not met. Second, EU funds must prioritise investment in accessible social and affordable housing, ensuring that local authorities and housing bodies have the resources to deliver inclusive homes. Third, we must support renovation programmes that adapt existing housing stock, particularly for those living in rural or older properties where accessibility challenges are greatest. Overall, accessibility must be integrated into the broader European disability rights framework, empowering persons with disabilities to shape policy and live independently with dignity.
I look forward to the completion of our own Committee’s report on housing in the EU, due in the first quarter of the new year, where I will be pushing for real access to affordable housing for persons with disabilities across Europe.
Defending strong accessibility and non-discrimination requirements in funding regulations
Question: You are member of the Regional Development Committee, which will be particularly active in upcoming discussions regarding the next EU budget. What role should the EU funds play in supporting the rights of persons with disabilities, and what should the Parliament defend in its position on the funding regulations?
Answer: As a member of the Regional Development Committee, I believe EU funds must be a direct instrument for promoting the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. Before being elected an MEP, I played a key role in establishing Lough Ree Access for All, a not-for-profit organisation that provides fully accessible boat trips on Lough Ree in the Irish midlands for people of all abilities- ensuring everyone can benefit from the “blue therapy” which these beautiful surroundings provide.
With this in mind, I believe that the Parliament should defend strong accessibility and non-discrimination requirements in funding regulations, while simplifying administrative processes so smaller NGOs and local authorities can participate. EU investments should embed disability inclusion as a cross-cutting principle, ensuring that every euro spent advances equality, participation, and dignity, particularly in rural and disadvantaged regions where barriers remain highest.