The Independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim, Ms Marian Harkin, has declared her candidature for the North and West constituency in the European elections.
First elected to the Dáil in 2002, Ms Harkin stood in the former Connacht-Ulster constituency during the 1999 European election campaign. She narrowly missed the third seat when she was beaten by the Independent candidate, Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon.
Ms Harkin said yesterday that her work as a member of the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee and the fact that she had maintained close contact with developments in the EU equipped her to effectively represent the interests of the people of the North and West region in the European Parliament. "The European Parliament's powers are increasing at a time when it will be considerably expanded with the addition of the accession states and I believe that the people of the North and West will be best served by having a strong Independent voice to represent them in the very challenging period ahead," she said.
"I will also use my campaign to highlight the failure of this Government to deliver on their promises contained in the National Development Plan to seriously implement a balanced regional development policy," she added.
"There appears to be no intention to change the pattern of expenditure under the NDP and we continue to see huge investments for infrastructure in Dublin and the rest of the South and East region while lip service continues to be the policy directed to the North and West." An example of this was the Government's decision to commit a further €37 million to the Luas project to enable it to cross the Red Cow roundabout while competitive road and rail infrastructure continued to be denied to the North and West.
Ms Harkin's Fianna Fáil rivals in the European election campaign will be decided at this weekend's selection convention in Roscommon. Both Minister of State for Labour Affairs Mr Frank Fahey and Galway West constituency colleague and sitting MEP Mr Seán Ó Neachtáin are seeking the nomination, along with Minister of State for Transport Dr Jim McDaid. Yesterday, Mr Ó Neachtáin said he was still receiving messages of support.
The Independent TD, Dr Jerry Cowley, said that he was still undecided on whether to run for Europe, but was "receiving overwhelming support".
