Marian Harkin

On the day that the 2016 Census revealed 3,800 young carers under 15 in Ireland, a group of young carers from throughout Ireland at a two day meeting in the Lilliput Adventure Centre, Lough Ennell, Co. Westmeath are pictured with (front row L to R): Sonnia Brady and Jennifer Kavanagh, Donor Avenue Youth Service; Catherine Cox, Communications Officer, Family Carers Ireland: Marian and Padraig McGrath, Young Carers Development Officer, Family Carers Ireland.

Brexit Co-ordinator for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt visited the border area between Armagh and Monaghan and met a number of groups representing farmers, road hauliers, IBEC and Border Communities Against Brexit. The visit was organised by Marian who is pictured with Mr. Verhofstadt and representatives of Border Communities Against Breixt (BCAB). (L to R):- John Sheridan, Guy Verhofstadt, Declan Fearon, Spokesperson, BCAB; and Damian McGenity, Coordinator, BCAB.

Brexit Co-ordinator for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt visited the border area between Armagh and Monaghan and met a number of groups representing farmers, road hauliers, IBEC and Border Communities Against Brexit. The visit was organised by Marian who is pictured with Mr. Verhofstadt and Dr. Pat Ivory, Director of EU and International Affairs, IBEC.

Brexit Co-ordinator for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt visited the border area between Armagh and Monaghan and met a number of groups representing farmers, road hauliers, IBEC and Border Communities Against Brexit. The visit was organised by Marian/ She is pictured at the farm of Arthur Hughes of Foyduff, Middletown whose farm straddles the border were (L to R): Vincent Roddy, Secretary, INHFA; Frank Brady, Chairman, Co. Monaghan IFA; Brian Treanor, Vice Chairman, Co. Monaghan IFA; Michael Collins, Chief Financial Officer, LacPatrick Co-op; Edmund Graham, Chairman, Co. Monaghan ICSA; Guy Verhofstadt, European Parliament Brexit Co-ordinator; Arthur Hughes, and Gerry McGovern, Cavan/Leitrim INHFA.

Brexit Co-ordinator for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt visited the border area between Armagh and Monaghan and met a number of groups representing farmers, road hauliers, IBEC and Border Communities Against Brexit. The visit was organised by Marian - she is pictured with Guy Verhofstadt and Arthur Hughes of Foyduff, Middletown whose farm straddles the border.

Brexit Co-ordinator for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt visited the border area between Armagh and Monaghan and met a number of groups representing farmers, road hauliers, IBEC and Border Communities Against Brexit. Marian organised the visit and is pictured at the farm of Arthur Hughes of Foyduff, Middletown whose farm straddles the border were (L to R): Arthur Hughes and Guy Verhofstadt.

Brexit Co-ordinator for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt visited the border area between Armagh and Monaghan and met a number of groups representing farmers, road hauliers, IBEC and Border Communities Against Brexit. Marian organised the visit and is pictured with Guy Verhofstadt, with the border behind them, when they visited the farm of Arthur Hughes, a supplier to LacPatrick, that straddles the border.

Pictured at the presentation of the European Entrepreneurial Region Award to the Northern and Western Assembly in the European Parliament are Cllr Jerry Lundy, Marian, Cathaoirleach of Sligo Co Co, Seamus Kilgallon who accepted the award and Cllr Kate Feeney.

Marian is pictured addressing the theme of Brexit at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties. Her fellow panelists were (L to R): Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament; Dr. Brendan Halligan, President of the Institute of International & European Affairs; Ruairí Quinn, Session Chairman and former Minister for Finance and Alan Dukes, Economist and former Minister for Finance Alan Dukes.

Marian hosted a group of carers from her constituency in the European Parliament recently. They are pictured before attending a meeting on Work Life Balance.

Marian hosted a group of Westmeath and Longford carers in the European Parliament. The carers had an opportunity to bring up issues they faced daily in relation to Work Life Balance. She is pictured with the group after the event (L to R): Jonathan Fagan, Mullingar; Rose Marie Lynch, Ballinalee, Longford; Constance Dempsey, Mullingar, Christine Glennon, Kinnegad; Eileen Paradise, Coosan, Athlone and Tom Elliffe, Castletowngeoghan.

Marian hosted a group of Offaly carers in the European Parliament. The carers had an opportunity to bring up issues they faced daily in relation to Work Life Balance. She is pictured with the group after the event (L to R): Martin Bracken, Clara; Nancy Nestor, Clara; Frances Flanagan, Ballycumber and Eileen Daly Kilcormac.

Marian hosted a group of Monaghan carers in the European Parliament. The carers had an opportunity to bring up issues they faced daily in relation to Work Life Balance. She is pictured with the Castleblaney group after the event (L to R): Paul Markey, Veronica Baylon, Margaret Connolly and Anna Ward.

Marian hosted a group of Laois carers in the European Parliament. The carers had an opportunity to bring up issues they faced daily in relation to Work Life Balance. She is pictured with the group after the event (L to R): Orla O’Byrne, Mountmellick; Patricia Lynch, Portlaoise and Dorothy Wallace, Camross, Portlaoise.

Marian hosted a group of Galway carers in the European Parliament recently. The carers had an opportunity to bring up issues they faced daily in relation to Work Life Balance. She is pictured after the event with Marian and Kevin Daly, Ballinasloe.

Marian hosted a group of Galway carers in the European Parliament. The carers had an opportunity to bring up issues they faced daily in relation to Work Life Balance. Maura Lynch, Kilnaleck; Linda Rooney, Kilnaleck; Ann Quigley, Kilnaleck; and Marian Woods, Killashandra.

Representatives of the Irish industry met Finnish Member of the European Parliament, Nils Torvalds at a meeting in Dublin organised by Marian to discuss problems associated with Brexit. Deputy Norvalds was nominated last week to contest the upcoming Presidency of Finland. Pictured at the event were (L to R):- Eugene Drennan, Spa Transport , Ennis, Co. Clare; Gabriel D’Arcy, Chief Executive, Lacpatrick Co-op, Monaghan; Marian; Nils Torvalds, Finnish MEP; Verona Murphy, President, Irish Road Haulage Association and Ger Hyland, Hyland Transport, Rosenalis, Co. Laoise.

Cavan Family Carers Group was one of four carers groups to receive a cheque of €2,500 at a regional conference of Family Carers Ireland held in Cavan on Friday, June 15th. The cheques totalling €10,000 were presented by Marian from a Carer Support Fund she has created. This fund was warmly praised by Chief Executive of Family Carers Ireland John Dunne, as an exceptional and welcome use of her pension entitlements. Geraldine Clarke, Family Carers Support Officer Kilnaleck is pictured receiving a cheque for €2,500 for Cavan Family Carers. Also in the picture are family carers from Cavan and John Dunne, Chief Executive of Family Carers Ireland.

Mayo Family Carers Group was one of four carers groups to receive a cheque of €2,500 at a regional conference of Family Carers Ireland held in Cavan on Friday, June 15th. The cheques totalling €10,000 were presented by Marian from a Carer Support Fund she has created. This fund was warmly praised by Chief Executive of Family Carers Ireland John Dunne, as an exceptional and welcome use of her pension entitlements. Bernadette Moran, Support Officer, Family Carers Castlebar is pictured receiving the cheque for Co. Mayo Carers from Marian.

Monaghan Family Carers Group was one of four carers groups to receive a cheque of €2,500 at a regional conference of Family Carers Ireland held in Cavan on Friday, June 15th. The cheques totalling €10,000 were presented by Marian from a Carer Support Fund she has created. This fund was warmly praised by Chief Executive of Family Carers Ireland John Dunne, as an exceptional and welcome use her pension entitlements. Brigid Finnegan, Family Carer Support Officer, Monaghan is pictured receiving a cheque for €2,500 from Marian. Also in the picture is John Dunne, Chief Executive of Family Carers Ireland and family carers from Monaghan.

Sligo Family Carers Group was one of four carers groups to receive a cheque of €2,500 at a regional conference of Family Carers Ireland held in Cavan on Friday, June 15th. The cheques totalling €10,000 were presented by Marian from a Carer Support Fund she has created. This fund was warmly praised by Chief Executive of Family Carers Ireland John Dunne, as an exceptional and welcome use of Deputy Harkin’s pension entitlements. Noelle Gibbons, Family Carer Support Officer, Sligo is pictured receiving a cheque for €2,500 from Marian . Pictured (L to R): Joe McDonagh, Aisling Sweeney, Marian, John Dunne, Chief Executive, Family Carers Ireland, Noelle Gibbons and Eamon and Padraic Laing.

Mark McConnell of Castlefin, Secretary of the Irish Rare Breeds Society, attended the inaugural Irish Rare Breeds Conference in Westport, Co. Mayo on Thursday and Friday, June 15th/16th. He is pictured at the event with Marian who spoke at the event.

Marian was guest speaker at the inaugural Irish Rare Breeds Society Conference organised in Westport by the Old Irish Goat Society on June 15th/16th. She is pictured at the event with members of the Mulranny based society. Front Row (L to R): Helen Walker, Sinead Loftus, Carol Loftus, Marian, Claire Ann Treacy. Back Row (L to R): Maeve Foran, Conservation Officer, Old Irish Goat Society, Rob Corrigan and Sean Carolan, Vice Chairman, Old Irish Goat Society.

Marian visited Feevagh National School on Europe Day, Tuesday, May 9th where the pupils displayed and related the work they had done on the countries of the European Union. She is pictured at the school with pupils, parents and teachers Eimeir Fitzmaurice and Sinead Kenny

Marian visited Lough Allen College, Drumkeerin on Europe Day, Tuesday, May 9th where she discussed, with pupils, the structure of the European institutions and her work in the European Parliament. She is pictured here with teacher Una Killoran and her pupils.

Marian visited Lough Allen College, Drumkeerin on Europe Day, Tuesday May 9th where she discussed, with pupils, the structure of the European institutions and her work in the European Parliament. She is pictured with school principal Fiona Kuehl.

Marian is pictured addressing attendees at the Bank of Ireland sponsored Business and Community Expo event in the Clifden Community School Gym.

Dermot O’Donovan, Head of Department, The Furniture College, Letterfrack gave details of the College to Marian when she visited the GMIT stand at the Bank of Ireland sponsored Business & Community Expo event in the Clifden Community School Gym.

Marian met with members of the N59 Action Campaign on her visit to Clifden at the weekend. She is pictured with (L to R): Josie Conneely, Seosamh O’Cuaig, Mary Coyne, Gerry King and Stephen Joyce.

The European Anti-Poverty Network organised a dialogue in the Northside Centre on Friday, May 5th as part of a programme of contact between civil society and the European Parliament. Pictured at the event were (L to R): Maureen McCormack, Mullingar, Westmeath Public Partnership Network (WPPN); Anne Drury, Multyfarnham (WPPN); Marian and Hugh Farrell, Athlone.

The European Anti-Poverty Network organised a dialogue in the Northside Centre on Friday, May 5th as part of a programme of contact between civil society and the European Parliament. Pictured at the event were (L to R): Marie Corcoran-Tindell, Kinlough; Danielle Bonner, Laghey; Marian; Finola Brennan, Donegal town, National Collective of Community Based Women’s Network;

The European Anti-Poverty Network organised a dialogue in the Northside Centre on Friday, May 5th as part of a programme of contact between civil society and the European Parliament. Marian is pictured at the event with a group of attendees.

The European Anti-Poverty Network organised a dialogue in the Northside Centre on Friday, May 5th as part of a programme of contact between civil society and the European Parliament. Pictured at the event were (L to R): Robin Hannan (EAPN); Marian; Dr. Pauline Cullen, Lecturer on Sociology, NUI Maynooth and Paul Ginnell, European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland (EAPN).

Teachers involved in the EU Ambassadors Schools Programme which provides information on the EU institutions and their policies were in Brussels recently. Jason Cotter, Principal of Presentation College, Athenry is pictured here in the European Parliament with Marian Harkin and Mairead McGuinness

Marian instigated the procedure necessary to seek designated status for the potato based food product Boxty. Boxty is synonymous with the border counties, Mayo and North Longford, and following a meeting of Boxty producers organised by the Independent MEP, a case to be made to the European Commission is currently being developed. Marian held discussions on the matter with Boxty restaurant owner Padraic Gallagher who has written about the history of the iconic potato product. She is pictured with Padraic outside his Gallagher’s Boxty House restaurant in Temple Bar in Dublin.

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly has initiated a post graduate diploma course in European Union affairs. 31 participants from across Ireland visited EU institutions recently including five from Sligo. During their visit to the European Parliament in Brussels, they met with Marian. Pictured (left to right): Mary Keaveney Sligo, Western Development Commission; Karen Sweeney Ballisodare, Western Development Commission; Brian Flynn Sligo County Council; Marian; Gail Mc Gibben Sligo Business Improvement District; Michael Carty Sligo County Council.

Representatives of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) are pictured with Marian at the European Commission in Brussels (left to right) Brendan Joyce, Connemara, Co. Galway; John Condon, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Marian John McConway, Inishowen, Co. Donegal and Colm O’Donnell, Aclare, Co. Sligo.

Marian was a key speaker at the conference organised by the Construction Industry Federation to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to put forward views on the future government investment plan for infrastructure. She is pictured here with (on left) Tom Parlon, Director General, Construction Industry Federation and Dominic Doheny, Tullamore, President, Construction Industry Federation.

Marian, as part of her interest in promoting the interests of organic farmers recently visited Padraig Fahy at Beechlawn Organic Farm near Ballinasloe

Marian has consistently supported the objectives of the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association in seeking measures to advance the green agenda at EU level. She is pictured recently with IOGFA representatives Gillian Westbrook and John Liston, organic grower.

Marian, as Ambassador for People with Parkinson’s and Brain Disorders, was among the attendance in the European Parliament at the policy debate on ‘The role of the EU Public Health & Social Policy in improving the quality of life for Parkinson's patients in Europe’. She is pictured here with, on left, Bas Bloom, Medical Director, Parkinson's Centre Netherlands; Paula Gilmore, CEO, Parkinson’s Association of Ireland.

Following a meeting with representatives of the IFA in the European Parliament Marian has written to the European Commission urging the banning of imports of Brazilian beef to the EU. This follows the revelation that Brazilian meat plants had been found to be exporting beef unfit for consumption. Pictured in Brussels were (L to R): Liam MacHale, Director, IFA Brussels Office; Angus Woods, Chairman, IFA, National Livestock Committee; Marian and Kevin Kinsella, IFA, Director of Livestock.

Representatives of Macra na Feirme were in the European Parliament this week to promote their proposals for the next phase of the Common Agriculture Policy to commence in 2020. They are pictured in the Parliament with Marian, on left Thomas Duffy, Agricultural Affairs Committee Vice Chair and Seán Finan, National President

Commissioner Phil Hogan addresses members of the High Hopes Choir in advance of their concert in the European Parliament.

An appreciative audience applauds the High Hopes Choir after their performance in the European Parliament.

Marian, a former teacher in the Mercy College, Sligo, returned to speak to students taking part in the European Parliament ‘Ambassador School Programme’. She is pictured with students beside the plaque awarded for successful completion of the programme (L to R):- Aine Finnegan, Eimear Kearney, Cliona Jordan, Julie Gaine, Chloe Ginty.

There was a large attendance in the Bee Park Community Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim for the meeting organised by the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) meeting which debated the proposed Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (ANC). The INHFA campaign is seeking front loading of the first 20 hectares at €250 per ha, a payment of €170 ha on the next 14 ha and an increase of eligible hectares from 34 to 40 at a rate of €70 per hectare. Marian was among the speakers at the event where she fully supported the objectives of the INHFA campaign. She is pictured at the event with (L to R): Mary Rooney, PRO, Sligo, Leitrim, West Cavan INHFA; Eamon Scanlon TD

Marian hosted an event in the European Parliament to highlight the campaign of small scale fishermen to have their rights safeguarded in the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Pictured with Marian at the event were Marie & Enda Conneely, Inisheer.

Marian hosted an event in the European Parliament to highlight the campaign of small scale fishermen to have their rights safeguarded in the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Pictured at the event were (L to R):- Mary & John O’Brien, Gortahork; Marie & Enda Conneely, Inisheer; Marian; Seamus Bonner, Arranmore Island; Brian O’Riordan, LIFE -the representative body for small scale fishermen in Brussels and Luke Ming Flanaghan MEP.

Marian, a former teacher in the Mercy College, Sligo, returned to visit transition year students who explained to her their involvement in the AIB Build a Bank Challenge. This project provides transition year students with an opportunity to showcase their creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship associated with running a bank. Marian is pictured at the College with, from L to R:- Aine Finnegan, Eimear Kearney, Cliona Jordan, Julie Gaine, Chloe Ginty.

On their recent visit to the European Parliament in Brussels, which was facilitated by Marian, were (on left) Regina Moloney, The Demense, Longford and Mary Divilly, Knocknacarra, Galway.

The European Network for Rural Development and the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) jointly organised a conference on ‘Generational Renewal Through Rural Development’ in Brussels on Wednesday, January 25th. Pictured with Marian at the event were: (on left), Sean Finan, President, Macra na Feirme and Alan Jagoe, President CEJA.

Marian is pictured with Conor Canavan from Riverstown, Co. Sligo on his visit to the European Parliament with fellow BA students from NUI Maynooth. 

BA students from NUI Maynooth visited the European Parliament where Marian spoke to them about the role of the Parliament and her work as an MEP representing 15 counties. She is pictured with the students in the Parliament.

Marian recently met Athenry based father and son social entrepreneurs Billy & Patrick Mulvihill to discuss the development of their services in which people with disabilities are employed. Marian, who is Vice President of the European Parliament’s Disability Intergroup and Chair and founder member of the Carers Interest Group consistently maintains focus on disability issues in the Parliament. She is pictured with Billy and Patrick at their company Amicitia in Athenry.