Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Clare Daly and Mick Wallace for their contributions in the Dáil since 2014. They were effective, diligent and determined on every issue in which they intervened. Everybody will agree that their political presence and tenacity is sorely missed in the Dáil and in Irish politics. They will bring the same political pressure and tenacity in Europe.

Like others, I would prefer to see a general election take place rather than the four by-elections but we are where we are. Deputy Pringle announced that Councillor Dean Mulligan is standing for Independents 4 Change in the by-election in the Dublin Fingal constituency. Ruth Nolan will also stand for Independents 4 Change in the Dublin Mid-West constituency. They both support the Right2Water movement's policy principles of the Right2Change. The latter are ten human rights policies on water, jobs, decent work, housing, health, justice, education, democratic reform, equality, sustainable environment and natural resources. Those human rights demands challenge establishment politics in Ireland and in Europe. Ruth Nolan has a record of being an active trade unionist and a community critical activist all her life. She is one of the key organisers of the Right2Water campaign in the South Dublin County Council area and she was also very involved in the movement to repeal the eighth movement. A number of years ago, among many issues on which Ruth Nolan campaigned, she introduced a motion to South Dublin County Council to introduce reverse vending machines for cans and plastics. She had the foresight to do that to challenge the waste created by plastics and cans in the area. Following her tenacity and determination Repak put in place 13 vending machines throughout the area. The people of Dublin Mid-West have a genuine opportunity now to vote for a real alternative and a genuine class and climate change fighter. Ruth Nolan is an alternative to the "Lanigan's Ball" politics of this Dáil played out by the establishment parties of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael whereby Fianna Fáil steps out and Fine Gael steps in and then Fine Gael steps out and Fianna Fáil step in again. She is also an alternative to those parties who want to join in that dance and be coalition partners with those two establishment parties. She is an alternative to that and she will stand with working class people in her community. I hope she does very well.

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