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Tackling regional inequalities and making sure the voices of rural people are heard was always, and remains, one of my priorities
JEMMA DOLAN
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SINN FÉIN HAS
STOOD UP FOR WORKERS AND FAMILIES
To say it came as a shock when I was first asked to consider running in the Assembly Election in 2017 would be an understatement. I was used to, and more comfortable, being part of the backroom team; whether it was working over in Europe with our then four-person MEP team or as a press officer behind the camera helping our candidates and elected representatives dealing with the media. I didn’t like the thought of being out front and centre, being interviewed and being the one in front of the camera. But I was very proud to represent Sinn Féin knowing that my fellow members in Fermanagh had selected me and knew I was good enough to go forward as their potential MLA. And so, I was selected and the next thing we had to do was try and get three MLAs elected in Fermanagh South Tyrone. My default position was that I would be fighting for the fifth and final seat and my two running mates, Seán Lynch and Michelle Gildernew, would be returned as MLAs for the constituency. I was so thankful to the 7,767 people who gave me their first preference votes. I was elected on the third count alongside Michelle, with Seán being elected on the fourth count. On the 3 March 2017, I was elected MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone at just 26 years old. At the time, I didn’t think much of my age but looking back now, I realise just how young I was. But my youth, my gender, and my rural background were all reasons why I anphoblacht UIMHIR EISIÚNA 1 - 2022 - ISSUE NUMBER 1
had agreed to run in the first place. My home is 112 miles one way from Stormont. If I was to travel there by public transport, I would need to get three buses. Thankfully, I drive and it is just the lack of decent roads that I need to contend with. Tackling regional inequalities and making sure the voices of rural people are heard was always, and remains, one of my priorities. Fermanagh doesn’t have one mile of dual carriageway or railway track and we have the poorest broadband in the North. And despite making up more than 6% of the north’s population and 11% of its land area, the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area accounted for just over 5% of the jobs created by Invest NI in 2017-18. I use my profile as MLA to showcase Fermanagh and put us on the map for all the right reasons. We have the most beautiful scenery in Ireland and have our own ice-cream, pottery, gin, and beer brands after all. I’ll fight tooth and nail so that my constituents get a fair deal. In 2020, I called a debate with the Infrastructure Minister urging her to extend the A4 dual carriageway as far as Enniskillen and whilst she hasn’t yet committed, I won’t be giving up. I’ve also been lobbying the Infrastructure Minster on improving the rural road network, extending the rail network to the west, upgrading sewage infrastructure and resolving flooding issues. I shall continue to state Fermanagh’s case to the Economy Minister when it comes to broadband and mo17
