I am absolutely thrilled to second the nomination of Seanadóir Eileen Flynn. I have known Eileen for a number of years through her work in promoting equality. She has always spoken up for the underdog. Eileen has proven herself in fighting against the odds. She has proven herself to be a brave and courageous woman. She has come from a disadvantaged background and has experienced racism and discrimination all her life. She is standing in the Seanad, where she has made significant contributions. As someone who was re…

I would like to follow on from all the points that have been raised here around the balance of transport. I would welcome a debate with the Minister for Transport to look at the imbalance there is when we look at the west and north west of Ireland in terms of public transport. I refer to the train line but also the N17, the N54 and the N15. We have been overlooked as a region. I know other Senators such as Senator Noonan have raised the Local Link services which have transformed rural Ireland. It has definitely tra…

It was removed during Covid. It has returned on the Dublin-Belfast train and the Cork-Dublin train. I ask the Minister for Transport why it has not come back to the north west. Maybe it is indicative of the emphasis that is placed on transport in our region.

Comhghairdeas leat, a Chathaoirligh. Beir bua agus go n-éirí an t-ádh leat. As someone who grew up in a house filled with politics and history, is mór an onóir dom a bheith anseo inniu. I am the only Seanad representative from Sligo or Leitrim. I congratulate everyone else who ran and everyone who was elected. I thank my Labour Party colleagues for believing in me. I thank the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for nominating me. I thank my Labour Party comrades in Sligo, Leitrim and south Donegal for supporting me. I …