Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his election and thank the former Cathaoirleach, Senator Denis O'Donovan, who knows how much I appreciated his support during the previous term.

I want to send my condolences to everyone in my party in Belfast who tomorrow will lay Bobby Storey to rest. The road to Irish unity and equal treatment across this island is marked by his contribution.

In contrast to the Dáil, there is a huge Government majority in this Chamber and, therefore, the Seanad does not reflect the change the people voted for in February. How could it, still unreformed after shelves of reports, years of committees and two referenda, and with no real mention of Seanad reform in the programme for Government? If anything sums up the programme for Government, it is just that - more of the same. However, there are more pressing issues facing our communities. As I cycled in from Inchicore this morning, I reflected on the fact the people of Dublin South-Central did not return one Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil Deputy, a clear message that the Establishment failed to deliver anything in housing or in health.

I will stand up for my family and friends, and all those who still live at home with their parents. Sinn Féin will stand by all the people who rely on a failed two-tier public and private health system. I will stand up for those who worked hard all their lives and contributed more than enough to earn a pension at 65. I will also proudly be a champion for the unity of our country and new common-sense constitutional arrangements.

The Covid emergency has shown people how quickly the system can change and adapt. The past number of months have only strengthened an appetite for change. I listened to commentators at the weekend say people would have had to grow up in a Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael household to understand the significance of this new coalition. Let me tell the House what others see - a Taoiseach who sat in Cabinets that constructed the world's most inflated property bubble and a Tánaiste who sat in Cabinets that forced the most crippling austerity on public services and communities. We now have a left-right divide in Ireland. We will hold the Government and the Leader of this House to account on climate action, affordable housing, a living wage, the trolley crisis and the pension age, and we will work with others to propose workable alternatives.

In conclusion, I also want to say comhghairdeas to Senator Eileen Flynn, who has been appointed. She played an instrumental role in the committee on issues facing the Traveller community, on which I was proud to serve. I know she will be a strong and independent voice. I offer her my support and any experience I have gained over the previous term.