Kieran McCarthy MLA
Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy is Alliance’s Chief Whip and spokesman on health, and culture, arts and leisure. An Ards Borough councillor for the Peninsula ward since 1985, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for the constituency in 1996 and has served in the Assembly from 1998. Kieran is married with two sons and two daughters.
What path did you take into politics?
I joined a local community association in Kircubbin in 1973 to try and improve facilities and the appearance of the village. At the time Lord Dunleath was an Alliance councillor. He had an advice office in Kircubbin and our community association tortured him and his staff for help in achieving our improvements.
When Lord Dunleath decided to retire from Ards Borough Council, he and others came knocking on my door to see if I would stand for election. At the time I had a young family and was working shift hours in the Donaghadee carpet factory. I said ‘no’ three or four times but they kept coming back until I finally said ‘yes’.
The Alliance Party was the right party for me as I was brought up in a rural locality, Ballycranmore, which is three miles beyond Kircubbin. Our neighbours were mixed both politically and religiously. We all played and worked together and were in and out of each other houses. We really could not understand how people in the big towns and cities could not do the same.
The council election came in May 1985, a quarter of a century ago. I stood for the Ards Peninsula ward and was elected. I remember working that evening in the carpet factory and the foreman coming and telling me that I had won a seat on the council. That was 25 years ago, and I am still on Ards Borough Council and now Assembly Member for Strangford. It has been hard work with many sacrifices, particularly where my family is concerned, but when you get success for a constituent it makes it all worthwhile.
8 May 2007 − devolution day at Stormont – was Northern Ireland’s finest hour. Power-sharing and working together must have surprised the world but peace and respect has been achieved.
What does your work as Chair of the All-Party Group on Older People entail?
I was Chairperson of the Age Sector Reference Group in the last Assembly and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting, almost every month, senior citizens from right across Northern Ireland. These representatives from the older population always made their way up to Stormont sat around the table and talked to Assembly Members from all of the parties about the problems our senior citizens were experiencing and how a local Assembly could help.
We had problems i.e. lack of heating in homes, very limited incomes, cost of living increases, pensions going up by 25p, inequalities in health provision, and lack of transport, particularly in rural areas.
We have made good progress on some of the issues like the Warm Homes scheme, special security measures for the elderly, and free transport at 60 for everyone. Even this new Westminster Government has promised to revive the pensions link with earnings.
I do have a personal interest in the welfare of the over 60s. I’m delighted to see this progress. One thing that still bugs me is that Northern Ireland, unlike Scotland, still does not have free personal care for our elderly − perhaps someday.
Practically, what does the role of chief whip mean?
A Chief Whip of any party is a pretty thankless task but one that has to be done. You could easily make enemies in your own party if you did not have some diplomatic skills. The duties of a Chief Whip are primarily to ensure that members are in agreement with decisions that are being made, and to ensure that members are in place in the Assembly when the division bell rings and, most importantly, ensure that members proceed to vote down the correct lobby. We also make decisions at our party council meetings, which in turn feeds down to our councillors so that they are aware of the party’s line in matters and to vote accordingly in the council chamber.
Health is facing a difficult year. What can be done to help ease the cuts?
As party health spokesperson, I acknowledge the frustration felt by so many people. When they or their families need health provision and have to wait and wait.
I really think there is a lot of unnecessary administration that could be trimmed and the revenue put into frontline services. As it is, the health centres and hospitals are buildings that have enormous overheads and the drug bill is horrendous. I want to see everyone benefit from our NHS and I pay tribute to all those organisations throughout Northern Ireland who campaign relentlessly for better facilities for the various health complaints.
I have a particular interest in facilities for people with a learning disability as my 40- year old daughter is profoundly disabled and there are so many like her who must be attended by an able-bodied person. They are people and their needs cannot be swept aside. Mental health has been a priority through the Bamford report and has to be tackled without delay.
As a former draper, do you think a knowledge-based economy can be detrimental to our traditional industries?
It is my opinion that a knowledge-based economy would not have a detrimental effect on our traditional industries. Unfortunately, competition from eastern European countries and further afield have proved successful to the detriment of Northern Irish industry and I give my total support to all small and medium local enterprises.
Local councils have played a pivotal role. My own Ards Borough Council have been to the forefront in providing business parks and encouraging small local entrepreneurs to start businesses with one or two people and expand as necessary thereby providing local employment. Our Executive must do what is necessary to get our banking system back into providing finance to get our construction industry working again and support our fishing industry. Every single job is important and Northern Ireland is now being pushed, and rightly so, to expand our private sector and at least get the balance between private and public service right.
How do you relax outside work?
Relaxation is very important but usually very difficult because a politician’s work is never done. Your brain is switched on every hour you are awake.
I do enjoy gardening. Trimming the shrubs and bushes and even mowing the lawn can be relaxing, therapeutic and it gives you a bit of exercise and fresh air. Cycling on country roads is also a hobby of mine, and I enjoy the peace and quiet, the smell of the hedgerows and, of course, the chorus of various birds singing which is something you can’t hear if you are driving a car.
I am at my best showing off my 1954 Morris Minor car. Last summer I hosted the annual outing for the Morris Minor Club Northern Ireland up at Parliament Buildings, Ballymiscaw, Stormont. It really was a sight to behold, I was so proud to be among so many Minor owners and that was a great day of relaxation.
Finally, when the day’s work is done I totally enjoy a leisurely walk outside my home along the promenade in Kircubbin breathing in the wonderful Strangford Lough sea air and listening to the movement of the tide and the chorus of the sea birds.
