Marian Harkin warns regions ignored as no senior ministers named
Marian Harkin spoke in the Dáil about regional representation and development, criticising the absence of senior ministers from Connacht, Donegal and Clare and urging action to close economic gaps. She said she would work constructively with and hold the government to account, and confirmed she would not retract her loaned vote for that day.
Regional representation
Harkin said she was extremely disappointed that no senior ministers were appointed from Connacht, Donegal or Clare. She argued that geography matters and that having voices around the cabinet table representing regions that have slipped behind is essential to balanced development.
Evidence of regional inequality
She referenced the most recent Northern and Western Regional Assembly report, which shows lower per capita investment in health infrastructure, third level education infrastructure, local, regional and national road infrastructure, high value job creation, and research and development in the Northern and Western Regional Assembly area.
Expectations of the new ministers
Harkin said the ministers appointed have a huge responsibility, individually and collectively, to ensure the economic gap is closed. She said they can address disparities both through their own ministries and by coordinated government action, and she expressed that she looked forward to working with them for the good of the country.
Commitment to accountability
Harkin reiterated that she would work constructively with and hold the government to account, and confirmed she would not walk back from loaning her vote for the day. The speech concluded with repeated thanks as she awaited to see what would happen.
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Thank you, Cankorla. Well, earlier I said I would work constructively with and hold this government to account. And to be honest, I didn't think I'd have reservations quite so soon. Let me start by saying I wish all the ministers well. You face hugely significant challenges and I look forward to working with you for the good of the country. However, I, like many others, am extremely disappointed that there are no senior ministers appointed from Connacht, Donegal or Clare. A balance of development between the regions is at the core of my political philosophy and I believe at the core of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael political philosophy. But the problem is we've been promised it time and time again, government after government, and yet it doesn't happen. The most recent report from the Northern and Western Regional Assembly shows the economic gap between the regions with lower levels of per capita investment in health infrastructure, in third level education infrastructure, in third level education infrastructure, in local, regional and national road infrastructure, in high value job creation, and in research and development in the Northern and Western Regional Assembly area. A balance of development allows the regions to play to their strengths, and it's very hard for that to happen if there are no voices around the cabinet table representing those regions that have slipped behind. Geography matters. That's the reality. We might like to say it doesn't, but it does. Yes, ministers represent the national interest, but a connection to, a specific interest in, and a passion for the region that they represent really matters. I said I'd loan my vote for today, and I won't walk back from that, but the ministers appointed today have a huge responsibility individually and collectively to ensure that the economic gap is closed, and they can do that both in their own ministries and by coordinated government action. I await to see what will happen. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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