Youngest MLA takes her place in the Assembly…and history

MLAs Raymond McCartney and Caitriona Ruane with Megan Fearon as she officially signs the Member's Register

20 year old Megan Fearon was formally registered as an Assembly Member for the Newry & Armagh Constituency yesterday, making her the youngest ever MLA and the youngest public representative in Ireland. Megan, who has just completed her university studies, took everything in her stride today even managing time for an interview with UTV’s Ken Reid on the steps of Stormont.

Speaking to Newry Times, Miss Fearon said, “Today has been the start of a process of learning and becoming familiar with the workings of the Assembly as a member. I am really looking forward to getting to grips with the legislative responsibilities which I now have to the people of Newry and Armagh. Although a lot of my time will be spent in the Assembly I want to take the summer recess to get to work immediately on projects in my constituency and in south Armagh in particular.”

She added, “Today I had the opportunity to collaborate with a Sinn Féin Republican Youth campaign regarding youth unemployment and emigration. These are issues I feel passionately about and I hope to use my Assembly position to highlight the problems faced by young people today.”

New MLA Megan Fearon with Cathal Boylan MLA, Conor Murphy MP and Mickey Brady MLA

Conor Murphy MP, spoke of his high regard for Miss Fearon saying, “I am delighted to see Megan here in the Assembly where I know she will do  fantastic job. I think in years to come people will recognise just what a bold move and positive message Sinn Féin is sending out today by selecting Megan to fill the seat which I have vacated.”

Speaking on his own future role Mr Murphy said, “I hope to use my MP brief to further the Uniting Ireland project internationally and in particular to engage with diaspora throughout Britian, the United States and Australia. I also want to concentrate on constituency work with the help of my party colleagues MLAs Megan Fearon, Cathal Boylan and Mickey Brady and Sinn Féin’s 16 local councillors across Newry Armagh.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Jul 3 2012. Filed under News, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry