RURAL ISSUES TO THE FORE FOR MARIAN HARKIN
HARKIN MAPS OUT A RETURN TO THE DÁIL ONCE MORE
If there’s one thing Independent General Election candidate Marian Harkin does well, it’s efficiency.
Perhaps drawing on her former teaching days in the Mercy College, the former MEP and TD runs a tight ship. No sooner are we introduced but we are hitting the pavements of Ballisodare as she juggles a media interview while adeptly canvassing passers by for their vote.
It’s quiet on the streets of Ballisodare and Harkin says walking through here and other areas hits home with her just one of the core issues that needs to be addressed by the next government.
“When you’re in towns like Ballisodare and Drumshanbo, it’s only when you’re walking through the town, you see the shops that are closed, the businesses that are closed down.”
Harkin is quick to clarify that small businesses are not looking for handouts, but notes that with the increasing costs of running a business, including rates, they are closing.
“The life blood is being sucked out of some of our towns,” she says.
Other issues the experienced politician sees as core issues are matters surrounding farming in the Northwest region.
“A big issue in farming is the new CAP. And it’s going to be a huge challenge around the distribution of the Pillar 1 payment and the rural development programmes.”
Another issue which is very dear to the candidate’s heart is disability services.
“If you have a young person with a disability or special needs they’ve cut the provision whereby they could get to their nearest centre, that’s gone, that imposes a huge burden on parents.”
Asked about her confidence in being able to tackle issues on the ground having been in the EU for 15 years, Harkin, who turned down an approach to run for Fine Gael, does not profess modesty, but instead outlines her reputation as a worker.
“I was re elected twice, that didn’t happen by chance, I had no party machine, I did stay close to people.
“People in Donegal didn’t vote for me because I was Marian Harkin, they voted for me because I kept in contact with people.”
Asked about representing those of the electorate with differing views on issues such as women’s bodily autonomy and whispers that a future government could re-assess legislation, Harkin is again frank.
“I think we’re lucky that the people made those decisions, not the politicians, not the judges.
“My commitment is the people have decided, personally, I have pro life views, but my commitment is I will not seek to row back or change any of that. Those decisions are made, we have moved on,” she concludes.