Spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural development Martin Kenny TD grew up in a close-knit farming community in Aughavas, County Leitrim where he raised
four children with his wife Helen.
Before running for election, he worked in the horticulture sector growing mushrooms, and advising others on establishing their own horticulture
businesses. He was co-opted on to Leitrim County Council in 2003 and elected to the Dáil in 2016.
During his time as a representative for the people of Sligo, Leitrim and south Donegal, he also served as Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Justice, and Transport
and Communications.
Some of the many issues Martin worked on during my time as an elected TD include:
- Working with Eoin O Broin on the development of workable reforms to
planning laws that would allow rural people to build homes on their own
land
- Supporting the long-overdue need for a new school building for Scoil
Mhuire in Carrick-on-Shannon, and Grange Post Primary School in Sligo.
- Raising the difficulties faced by children accessing special education
supports for across the northwest
- Advocating for the establishment of a CAMHS Intellectual Disability team
in the northwest
- Raising delays in bringing the Shiel Hospital in Ballyshannon up to full
capacity
- Highlighting the need for improved frequency on the Sligo – Dublin route,
with early-morning and late-night services to support those who have
moved home to Sligo and Leitrim
- Supporting the development of the Western Rail Corridor to promote
tourism and connectivity
- Publishing a policy on Sinn Féin’s commitment to establishing a
Commission on the Future of Family Farming to ensure the protection of
rural communities
- Campaigning for improved reliability and access to farming schemes
- Running a campaign against the increase of tolls across all toll roads and
scrapping of government imposed hikes on excise duty on fuel
