Marian Harkin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Harkin in 2024 | |
| Minister of State | |
| 2025– | Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2020 | |
| In office May 2002 – May 2007 | |
| Constituency | Sligo–Leitrim |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 1 July 2014 – 24 May 2019 | |
| Constituency | Midlands–North-West |
| In office 1 July 2004 – 20 May 2014 | |
| Constituency | North-West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1953-11-26)26 November 1953 (age 71) Ballintogher,County Sligo, Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | European Democratic Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
Marian Harkin (born 26 November 1953) is an Irishindependent politician who has been aTeachta Dála (TD) for theSligo–Leitrim constituency since the2020 general election, and previously from 2002 to 2007. She previously served as aMember of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2004 to 2019.[1][2]
Harkin was born inBallintogher,County Sligo, in 1953. She studied atUniversity College Dublin, where she attained aBachelor of Science degree in geology. She worked as a maths teacher at Mercy College secondary school inSligo for 25 years, before entering into politics.[3]
While living inManorhamilton, Harkin became active in the voluntary and community sector and developed the view that people living in disadvantaged areas such asConnacht had to rely on their own initiative and energy to progress development of their region. Her work at local level led to her appointment toDeveloping the West Together, which evolved into theCouncil for the West, of which Harkin became chairperson.[4]
She was elected toDáil Éireann as an IndependentTD for theSligo–Leitrim constituency at the2002 general election, receiving the highest number of first preference votes in the constituency.[5]
At the2004 European Parliament election, she was returned as anMEP for the North-West constituency topping the poll and being elected on the fourth count.[6] She had previously contested the1999 European Parliament election in the same constituency (then calledConnacht–Ulster), but had narrowly failed to be elected, losing out toDana Rosemary Scallon for the third seat in the constituency. However, in 2004, the position was reversed and Harkin was returned at Scallon's expense.
Harkin did not contest the2007 general election to concentrate on her role as an MEP.[7]
She was a member of theAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group (ALDE) in theEuropean Parliament.[8] Harkin was a member of the European Parliament'sCommittee on Employment and Social Affairs and the delegation for relations with theUnited States. She has beenEuropean Democratic Party Vice-president since December 2012. In addition, she served as vice-chairwoman of the European Parliament Intergroup on Integrity (Transparency, Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime).[9] She is also a supporter of the MEP Heart Group, a group of parliamentarians who have an interest in promoting measures that will help reduce the burden ofcardiovascular diseases (CVD).[10]
She was re-elected to the European Parliament at the2009 European Parliament election topping the poll in her constituency. She was again re-elected at the2014 European Parliament election, taking the fourth seat in the newMidlands–North-West constituency.
On 1 April 2019, she announced that she was not standing for re-election in the2019 European Parliament election.[11]
In January 2020, she announced she was standing in theSligo–Leitrim constituency at the2020 general election,[12] where she was elected.
At the2024 general election, Harkin was re-elected to the Dáil.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 2025–present | Incumbent |