Marian Harkin: Loans Vote to Form Government, Warns Programme Vague
Marian Harkin spoke in the Dáil on 27 June 2020 about the formation of a new government, Brexit, COVID-19, regional balance, agriculture and public finances. She said she would loan her vote to Micheál Martin to enable government formation and pledged to hold the new government to account while expressing serious reservations about the programme for government.
Vote to enable government
After 140 days without a government, she stated it was time one was formed and announced she would loan her vote to Micheál Martin in the interest of forming what she described as the only viable option for government. She committed to play a constructive role in holding that government to account.
Concerns over the programme for government
She said she has "some serious reservations" about the programme for government, calling it very vague on how it will deliver a balance to the regions, manage Brexit, provide specific supports for agriculture and explain how it will be financed.
Immediate national challenges
She warned the country faced a possible hard Brexit, businesses across all sectors on their knees, and the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak with the anxiety of another peak ahead. She emphasised the urgent need to get people back to work.
Experience and expectations
Drawing on 15 years in the European Parliament, she said working across different perspectives to find compromise is not unusual. She wished the incoming leader and the new government well and said Irish people deserve good government — now it must be seen if it is delivered.
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Thank you, Ken Corla. Well, today, history is being made. We see the two old enemies come together with the Greens to form a government. For some, this is strange, but for me, having spent 15 years in the European Parliament, it's not strange to see parties and groups with different perspectives come together to find compromises. After 140 days, it's time we had a government. We are in the teeth of a possible hard Brexit. Businesses across all sectors are on their knees looking for support. We are in the trough of a COVID-19 outbreak and people are anxious that another peak may lie ahead. And we need to get people back to work. I have some serious reservations about the programme for government. It's vague around how it will deliver a balance to the regions. Very vague. It's vague when it comes to managing Brexit. It's vague as to specific supports for agriculture. And it's vague when it comes to how we will pay for it all. However, the three parties forming government have a majority in the Dáil and collectively the highest percentage of the vote. I wish Micheál Martin well and I wish his government well. Irish people deserve good government. Let's see if it is delivered. For today, I will loan my vote to Micheál Martin in the interest of forming what is the only viable option for government right now. And I will play a constructive role in holding that government to account. Thank you.
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