Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I cannot vote for the Minister, Deputy Harris, as Taoiseach, because four years of this Government and 13 years of Fine Gael in government have not delivered for the north west.

Earlier, the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, whom I wish well in his retirement from office, spoke of global mega-trends influencing outcomes. 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 Departments. The Government has not done that and so regions like the north west lag behind. The Government has not addressed or delivered housing for the north west. CSO housing commencement figures show that in 2023 the four counties I represent – Sligo, Leitrim, north Roscommon, and south Donegal – were in the bottom ten counties when it came to housing commencements on a per capita basis.

The Government has not delivered on health. 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.

The Government has not delivered on agriculture, where it was a cheerleader for the nature restoration law, without mitigating outcomes for the drained peatlands in the north west and no ring-fenced funding.

I fully recognise that today is a momentous day for Deputy Harris and his family. While I will not be voting for him as Taoiseach, on a personal level I wish him and his family all that is good.

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