Sligo Leitrim TD says this and previous Government have not delivered for the northwest

Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin, during the Dáil debate on the nomination of Simon Harris TD as Taoiseach, says to Minister Harris that she cannot vote for him as Taoiseach because, after 13 years of Fine Gael in Government, the needs of the northwest have not been met.

"In the key critical areas affecting people's lives successive Governments in which Fine Gael has participated have not delivered.

"You have not addressed or delivered housing for the northwest. CSO housing commencements show that in 2023 the four counties I represent, Sligo, Leitrim, North Roscommon and South Donegal were in the bottom 10 counties when it came to housing commencements on a per capita basis.

"You have not delivered on health," Deputy Harkin continued, "our trolley-watch figures show that from 2011 when Fine Gael entered Government the numbers on trolleys at Sligo University Hospital have increased by over 250% while the national increase is 50%. The figures speak for themselves."

Turning to agriculture, Ms Harkin focused on the Government's support for the Nature Restoration Law, "You have not delivered on agriculture where you were cheerleaders for the Nature Restoration Law with no mitigating outcomes for the drained peatlands in the northwest and no ring-fenced funding.

"Earlier, the out-going Taoiseach Mr Varadkar, who I wish well in his retirement from office, spoke of the way in which global mega trends influence outcomes, however, in my view the only way to counter those trends, in the context of balanced regional development, is to have systemic and substantial policy-driven change across all government departments," Ms Harkin said.

"Successive Governments have not done this and so regions like the northwest lag behind, therefore I have no reason to support your nomination as Taoiseach.

"Finally, Minister, I fully recognize that today is a momentous day for you and your family and while I won't be voting for you as Taoiseach, on a personal level I wish you and your family all that is good," Deputy Harkin concluded.