Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith ag an Ceann Comhairle agus comhghairdeas léi. What a year of elections it has been for many people in this Chamber. I am delighted to be here with people from all over the country who are committing to making Ireland a better place to be for everyone. Let us work hard to ensure we remember all of those people who are relying on us and who have put their trust in us. Let us use our mandate across all of our political views to improve housing, education and the health system, to name but a few.

As I stand here, I am thinking about all of the children and young people I have worked with over the past 30 years through youth arts, youth services, the school completion programme, my doctoral work and through my teaching in DCU. I am here in front of many Members' children and young people, and indeed my own children, who are up in the Gallery. In my work to date and now in my new role in the Thirty-fourth Dáil, I will focus on ensuring our country will be the best place it can be for now and for their future.

My husband and dad are also here celebrating my first day. Many of us here today have members of their family who are not here due to illness or, sadly, through bereavement. My mum died in May, a month before the local elections, and I know there are others in this Chamber today who have also lost people through death. We must remember them today. I would like all elected Members to the Thirty-fourth Dáil to remember how we feel today, to respect one another, to find humanity in one another and strive to ensure we find our commonalities and not always our differences. I look forward to representing the people of Dublin South-Central to whom I am very grateful for voting for me. I look forward to representing them along with all of the people in this Chamber.

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