Marian Harkin (born 26 November 1953) is an Irish

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

politician who has served as Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science since February 2025. She has been a

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( ; ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish language, Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The official Engli ...

(TD) for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency since the 2020 general election, and previously from 2002 to 2007. She previously served as a

Member of the European Parliament A member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been Election, elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and S ...

(MEP) from 2004 to 2019.

Early and family life

Harkin was born in Ballintogher,

County Sligo County Sligo ( , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region and is part of the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht. Sligo is the administrative capital and largest town in ...

, in 1953. She studied at

University College Dublin University College Dublin (), commonly referred to as UCD, is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland. With 38,417 students, it is Ireland's largest ...

, where she attained a

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, B.S., B.Sc., SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree that is awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Scienc ...

degree in geology. She worked as a maths teacher at Mercy College secondary school in

Sligo Sligo ( ; , meaning 'abounding in shells') is a coastal seaport and the county town of County Sligo, Ireland, within the western province of Connacht. With a population of 20,608 in 2022, it is the county's largest urban centre (constituting 2 ...

for 25 years, before entering into politics.

Community activism

While living in

Manorhamilton Manorhamilton () is the second-largest town in County Leitrim, Ireland. It is located on the N16 from Sligo and from Enniskillen. History Before the Plantations of Ireland, the settlement was known, and continues to be known in the ...

, Harkin became active in the voluntary and community sector and developed the view that people living in disadvantaged areas such as

Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...

had to rely on their own initiative and energy to progress development of their region. Her work at local level led to her appointment to ''Developing the West Together'', which evolved into the ''Council for the West'', of which Harkin became chairperson.

Irish politics

She was elected to

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( ; , ) is the lower house and principal chamber of the Oireachtas, which also includes the president of Ireland and a senate called Seanad Éireann.Article 15.1.2° of the Constitution of Ireland reads: "The Oireachtas shall co ...

as an Independent TD for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency at the 2002 general election, receiving the highest number of first preference votes in the constituency.

Member of the European Parliament, 2004–2019

At the

2004 European Parliament election The 2004 European Parliament election was held between 10 and 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom. The European Parliamental parties could not be voted for, but elect ...

, she was returned as an MEP for the North-West constituency topping the poll and being elected on the fourth count. She had previously contested the

1999 European Parliament election The 1999 European Parliament election was a European election for all 626 members of the European Parliament held across the 15 European Union member states on 10, 11 and 13 June 1999. The voter turn-out was generally low, except in Belgium and ...

in the same constituency (then called Connacht–Ulster), but had narrowly failed to be elected, losing out to

Dana Rosemary Scallon Dana Rosemary Scallon (born Rosemary Brown; 30 August 1950) known professionally as Dana (), is an Irish singer, songwriter and politician. While still a schoolgirl she won the Eurovision Song Contest 1970, 1970 Eurovision Song Contest with "A ...

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 the 2007 general election to concentrate on her role as an MEP. She was a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group (ALDE) in the

European Parliament The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it ...

. Harkin was a member of the European Parliament's

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) is a Committees of the European Parliament, committee of the European Parliament. It is responsible for issues of employment and social policy, including labour rights, social security, inclusion ...

and the delegation for relations with the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. She has been

European Democratic Party The European Democratic Party (EDP; French: ''Parti démocrate européen'', PDE), also known as the European Democrats, is a centrist European political party in favour of European integration. Within the European Parliament, its MEPs form th ...

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). 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 of

cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina, heart attack), heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, rheumati ...

s (CVD). She was re-elected to the European Parliament at the

2009 European Parliament election The 2009 European Parliament election was held in the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Member of the European Parliament, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were elected to represent s ...

topping the poll in her constituency. She was again re-elected at the

2014 European Parliament election The 2014 European Parliament election was held in the European Union (EU) between 22 and 25 May 2014. It was the 8th parliamentary election since the first direct elections in 1979, and the first in which the European political parties field ...

, taking the fourth seat in the new Midlands–North-West constituency. On 1 April 2019, she announced that she was not standing for re-election in the

2019 European Parliament election The 2019 European Parliament election was held in the European Union (EU) between 23 and 26 May 2019. It was the ninth parliamentary election since the first direct elections in 1979. A total of 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) we ...

Return to Dáil (2020–present)

In January 2020, she announced she was standing in the Sligo–Leitrim constituency at the 2020 general election, where she was elected. At the 2024 general election, Harkin was re-elected to the Dáil. In February 2025, she was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with special responsibility for further education, apprenticeship, construction and climate skills.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Harkin, Marian 1953 births Living people Alumni of University College Dublin 21st-century women MEPs for the Republic of Ireland Independent MEPs for Ireland Independent TDs Members of the 29th Dáil Members of the 33rd Dáil 21st-century women Teachtaí Dála MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 2004–2009 MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 2009–2014 MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 2014–2019 Politicians from County Sligo European Democratic Party People from Manorhamilton Members of the 34th Dáil Ministers of State of the 34th Dáil