Marian’s triumphant return to Dáil
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE, MARIAN HARKIN WAS ELECTED PREVIOUSLY IN 2002 AND RETURNS AFTER A SPELL AS MEP
“People aren’t just asking for change, they’re shouting for it.” That was view of the newly-elected TD for Sligo/Leitrim, Marian Harkin after taking the second seat in her return to politics on Irish shores.
When she threw her name in the ring for the 2020 General Election there was a collective groan from Ireland’s two biggest parties (of 2019).
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael knew she would be a spanner in the works, and boy was she. The former MEP polled 6,972 first preference votes, but, the story of her success is in her transferability, 200 here, 460 there, she was mopping up across the region, from left leaning candidates to gathering very healthy transfers of what could be perceived to be a female vote.
Harkin tells The Sligo Champion that with a Sinn Féin ‘ tsunami’ and rural Independents securing seats nationwide, have not only called for change but ‘shouted’ for it.
“There’s been a lot of rural Independents elected across the country. With the surge in Sinn Féin and rural Independents that is sending a loud message. I think the message is to some extent ‘We haven’t been getting our fair share’ and this is a way it may be delivered.”
She adds, “Sinn Féin definitely represents that, but, if it was only that why did they elect so many Independents, because they know what the perspective of the Independents is.”
In a big analogy, the Ballintogher native compares the national trend in voting left to an ‘Irish Brexit’.
“Sinn Féin is certainly about change, but it’s also about its own policies. This in a way is the Irish Brexit, of a different type. A lot of countries have gone to the right, we’ve gone to the left, and I think that reflects a sense that yes, we have a growing economy but ordinary people aren’t feeling it. It’s not so much the money in their pockets, of course that matters, I think it’s more about health and housing.”
Harkin said she met people on the canvass who said they felt ashamed by the health and housing crisis.
“They feel we [the country] can do better and they know what that would mean for their children.”
Harkin believes a grouping of like-minded rural TDs is what is needed to achieve change and demands for regional balance.
“I started out my career being a councillor for the west and that was all about balanced regional development. I just felt that opportunity was there, otherwise I wouldn’t be running.”
The newly-elected TD doesn’t beat around the bush when asked where to next when looking to form a Government.
“Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have to talk.”
But, asked where she fits into that, the experienced politician kept somewhat tight-lipped.
“We haven’t seen the final numbers, but there won’t be enough to form a government and I think you will need a grouping, whether it’s small parties or Independents and that will to some extent depend on what Sinn Féin might want or what Fianna Fáil might want, to give stable government. We have to wait and see the final outcome.”
With Independents looking to possibly form some part of a Government formation, does Harkin have an eye on a role at the ‘ table’?
“I hope my role will be with others demanding fair share to the regions, whether we do that as part of a government or making sure that the promises that were made in all the manifestos we’ ll see.
“There’s Independents elected all over the place, not all of those Independents will be able to work together but some of them will.” And what of the voters who showed their support on the ballot sheet?
“Anybody who is elected is hugely grateful, not just for the No.1s, but for the twos and threes and also, for a warm reception. We got a lot of good will, and that made it so much easier for canvassers and candidates.”
Rolling up her sleeves straight away Harkin is definite when it comes to her first task.
“Talking to other Independents, that’s number one, where that can go. We have to wait and see, that could be a week, that could be six weeks.”
Responding to speculation of a possible second election, Harkin believes the main parties [traditionally], will not want that a second bite of the cherry.
“Sinn Féin is one of them [main parties] now, there are many constituencies where they will run a second candidate.
“The people have voted and they expect politicians to form a government. Could it be Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael, it could, but that would not reflect the change people were looking for but sometimes it comes down to what is possible.
Either way, is Harkin prepared to be involved in some form of setup regardless of the makeup, she’s very direct. “I’ve no red lines, I ran in this election and one reason only, to get our fair share to the regions, Sligo, Leitrim, North Roscommon and South Donegal.”