James Carroll (Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí go léir as ucht na focail deasa a shín siad amach chugam. Tá mo chlann ar mo lámh dheis agus mo chairde ar mo lámh chlé. Is iad na daoine a chuir mé anseo i Seanad Éireann. Gabhaim buíochas leo.

I thank Senators for their kind words. This is my first day as a Member of Seanad Éireann and I hope all other days I spend here will be as easy as today. This is a huge honour for me and my family. I am a 26 year old from Monasterboice starting out in life in many respects. My mother, father and two sisters, Fiona and Briege, are present in the Visitors Gallery. But for them and their superb support of me through my life so far, I would not be here today. I hope to do them, and everyone else, proud.

I thank MS Ireland, the Central Remedial Clinic and the Irish Deaf Society, for their kind nomination, without which I would not have had an opportunity to contest the election. I was lucky given no other candidates put their names forward. I thank Deputy Margaret Conlon, my boss for the past two years. Working with her was a superb training ground. I wish Deputy Conlon, who is one of the most capable politicians I have ever met, all the best in the future. I hope she goes very far.