Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar mo shon féin agus ar son Pháirtí Fhianna Fáil, ba mhaith liom i dtús báire fáilte faoi leith a chur roimh an Teachta Malcolm Byrne agus an Teachta Pádraig Ó Súilleabháin chuig Dáil Éireann. Mar aon leis sin, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Teachta Mark Ward agus an Teachta Joe O'Brien as ucht a bheith tofa sna fothoghcháin ag an deireadh seachtaine. Gan amhras, is onóir den scoth é seo do na Teachtaí nua-thofa. Is pribhléid den scoth í bheith tofa mar bhall de Dháil Éireann. Táimse sásta go mbeidh sé ar a gcumas acu an-chuid oibre a dhéanamh sa Teach seo sna míonna atá romhainn ar son a muintireacha féin, ar son a ndúichí féin agus ar son na tíre. Déanaim comhghairdeas leo. It is my great privilege as leader of Fianna Fáil to welcome Deputies Malcolm Byrne and Pádraig O'Sullivan to the Fianna Fáil ranks in Dáil Éireann. I congratulate Deputies Mark Ward and Joe O'Brien too. Deputy Joe O'Brien is an impeccable Corkman. I wish them well in pursuit of their parliamentary duties.

All of us here will remember our first day in Leinster House. It is a most memorable day. Anyone who believes in politics and in parliamentary democracy will respect the privilege that has been bestowed on the new Deputies and the trust that has been placed in them by the people. My party is very grateful for the great wisdom of the people of Wexford and Cork North-Central, who have placed their trust in Deputies Malcolm Byrne and Pádraig O'Sullivan. Both of them have been excellent county councillors. Both of them have a great passion for education. Deputy Malcolm Byrne has worked for the Higher Education Authority and Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan has worked as a secondary school teacher. Both of them have a great commitment to the issues before us. The priorities and needs of the people were very clear on the doorsteps in all four constituencies.

It was very clear that the priorities of the people were housing and health services, illegal drugs and crime and, of course, regional economic development and climate change. These are the issues that we experienced first-hand when we met people. I thank all of the members of all parties who knocked on doors and participated because it is the essence of democracy that we have people who are willing to do that on behalf of all of our candidates and parties. Family members and members of the organisations are essential to the wheels of democracy. We thank those who knocked on the doors on behalf of those candidates, some of whom are in the Visitors Gallery witnessing today's events. We appreciate their contribution to our democracy as well as in terms of this momentous day for the four Deputies who have been elected.

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