Marian Harkin has been elected as an Independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim and committed to promoting the interest of the rural community.

She spoke to the Irish Farmers Journal ahead of the election and pointed out some key issues for people living in the area, including forestry.

“It’s time to stop the mass-planting of Sitka [spruce]; it’s destroying this county and surrounding counties,” she said.

Election 2020: Marian Harkin.

Harkin served as an MEP between 2004 and 2019 and emphasised her commitment to continued funding for CAP.

“We have control over co-funding for Pillar II, and we need a proper REPS [Rural Environment Protection Scheme] in place for farmers in this region, so they can be paid for the public goods they produce so that they can be part of the solution, rather than being seen as a part of the problem.”

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