WITH parties and individuals now jockeying for political position as Northern Ireland prepares to hold Assembly elections soon, there’s a lot to consider for an electorate keen to have their voices heard, but perhaps a little uncertain of where the would-be MLAs stand on a range of issues.

And so, over the coming weeks – starting today – we’ll be looking at the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA candidates running in our area, who were happy to talk to The Impartial Reporter’s Ciarán Flaherty, Jessica Campbell and Victoria Johnston about where they stand on several issues.

Topics

Whether on topics such as the current cost of living and energy crises, to the Northern Ireland Protocol, to ongoing health and education issues and other topics, the candidates across the political board have shared where they stand, and what their vision is for Northern Ireland and our area.

Featuring the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA candidates in no particular order, The Impartial Reporter asked each of them the following questions which arguably matter most, answered opposite, with the other candidates’ answers following in coming weeks.

Finally, no matter where you stand on these issues, and regardless of who you would like to support at the ballot box, please do cast your precious vote when the opportunity arises, and help to make sure that your voice is heard.

Question 1:Tell voters a bit about yourself – why are you in politics/how long for?

Question 2:From speaking to people in the constituency, what issues are affecting the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone?

Question 3:What will be the main issues you will be working on, if elected?

Question 4:How can Stormont work best for the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone?

Question 5:What will you bring as an MLA if elected?

Question 6: Why should people vote for you?

Answer 1: I have been involved in local community activism and Republican politics since my teens. I have lived all my life in the Brantry area of South Tyrone and have two sons.

My family were centrally involved in the Caledon sit-in for civil rights to secure housing and voting rights for Nationalists and Republicans here in what was a deeply sectarian system, resulting in my mother – who was expecting me at the time – and my godmother and grandmother being violently evicted from that house, leading to the first civil rights march from Coalisland to Dungannon.

After leaving school, I went into the family engineering business outside Dungannon. I eventually took over the running of that business with my brother.

I returned to education to study social work some years ago, and went on to gain a first-class honours degree in social work from Magee.

I then worked as a social worker for some years in the local integrated care team, based in South Tyrone Hospital, and while there I became even more aware of the issues facing many people in accessing care for loved ones and the huge burden being placed on carers.

I was also increasingly concerned at the impact Brexit could have on our community, so when I was asked to consider a co-option to the Assembly, I decided that this was a way to do something positive for the South Tyrone and wider community.

Answer 2: Access to health care, social care and medical appointments, the current cost of living crisis, and access to work and housing are all huge issues for people at present.

Answer 3: If elected, I would love to continue the work I have done on health and social care. We need to urgently focus on supporting, retaining and recruiting more health workers to deliver care for all.

These frontline staff must be properly valued, and we need to invest to ensure this is the case.

I would also continue to push for a fair allocation of resources and infrastructure for our area to address the historic imbalances we have seen over many decades.

Work starting on the A5 road, and the provision of acceptable broadband, are crucial to that.

Answer 4: By working together on behalf of all our people. The decision by the DUP to collapse the Executive, blocking a three-year budget for health care, must be challenged.

Everyone wants to see us work together to move forward on the basis of fairness and equality, including past commitments being honoured in full.

Answer 5: I will bring the energy, enthusiasm and diligent work that I think I have demonstrated in the last mandate.

I also hope to use the experience I have gained as an MLA over the past five years and as Chair of the Assembly Health Committee throughout the pandemic to ensure I can represent this area and its people effectively.

I will also work to secure improvements in health and social care, including transformation of the health service here in the North, and building toward a modern, efficient and effective all-Ireland health care system.

Answer 6: To allow me to continue to represent the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone effectively, with my Sinn Féin colleagues, to deliver a progressive, shared and better future for all of us here in the constituency and right across the island of Ireland.