Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

A Chathaoirligh, a Sheanadóirí agus a dhaoine uaisle go léir, "Is féidir linn" an rosc catha a bhí ag an Uachtarán Obama agus é ag tabhairt aithisc spreagúil uaidh an Luan seo caite agus é ar chuairt anseo in Éirinn. Ach ní léiríonn an mana sin ach an fhéidireacht atá ionann agus ní ionann caint agus gníomnh. Caithfear gníomhartha dearfacha, fad-radharcacha a ghlacadh le fís ar bith a shaolú agus is fúinne atá sé ár bhfís chomhaontaithe a chur i gcrích. Is fúinne atá sé mar thír, dóchas a thabhairt dár bpobal gur féidir linn teacht as an duibheagán eacnamaíoch ina bhfuilimíd. Caithfear sin a dhéanamh trí leas cothrom agus ciallmhar a bhaint as ár gcuid acmhainní ar fad, acmhainní airgeadais, acmhainní daonna agus acmhainní nádúrtha.

Is fúinne atá sé mar Sheanadóirí díospóireachtaí bríomhartha, ciallmhara a bheith againn maidir leis an reachtaíocht a bheidh os ár gcomhair chun cinntiú go bhfuil muid ag freastal ar ár gcuid saoránach ar fad, idir sean agus óg, lag agus láidir, saibhir agus daibhir. Is fúinne ata sé freisin mar dhaoine aonar ár gcuid féin a dhéanamh le bun-luachanna daonnachta, cothramaíochta agus ceartais a chur chun cinn ag gach leibhéal den Státchóras agus, go háirithe, anseo i dTithe an Oireachtais.

I stand here today and the words of President Obama are still fresh in our memories. "Yes, we can", he reminded us, "is féidir linn". He is right, but it will be up to us as individuals, public representatives and a nation to rise to the challenges facing us collectively and overcome them in a manner which will not jeopardise our sovereignty. We must not have one law for the ordinary person struggling to repay a mortgage and another for the crooked banker who put such people in an impossible position in the first place. We should not cut back essential public services to feed the greed of a European financial clique preying on vulnerable economies.

It is up to us to also ensure that the burdens for our economic difficulties will be borne by those most able to bear them and others will provide support when the need arises. It is up to us to inspire our young people through our language, culture, heritage, arts and sports to believe in themselves and help us realise our amazing potential as a country. It is up to us not to forget our history and the sacrifice made by those who struggled for Irish freedom. That struggle was recognised by the British Queen when she laid a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance last week.

Let us also not forget those whose death 30 years ago on hunger strike was for the cause of achieving equality, civil rights and a bright future for all the citizens on this island. On 11 March 1981, Mr. Bobby Sands wrote "There is no equality in a society that stands upon the political ... bog if only the strongest make it good or survive." Those sentiments have a poignant resonance today as we face the struggle of an economic crisis and the challenge of rebuilding our country into a republic of equals. It is up to us to strive to build an Ireland which includes all of our people and one of which we are all proud.

Tá mé bródúil a bheith i mo sheasamh anseo os bhúr gcomhair inniu mar Sheanadóir nua-thofa. Tá mé coinsiasach den stair ársa as a dtagaim agus as an gceannródaíocht a thug na daoine eile a tháinig romham. Tá mé ag súil go mór le hionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar mhuintir na hÉireann ar fad ar fud an oileáin seo, ach go speisialta muintir Chonamara agus Árainn, muintir na Gaillimhe, pobal na tuaithe, lucht na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta, ár bhfeirmeoirí, iascairí, ceardaithe, ár státseirbhísigh, daoine le riachtanais ar leith, iad siúd atá faoi bhrú, agus lucht na healaíona, an cheoil agus na siamsaíochta.

I am proud and humbled to sit in this House as a newly elected Senator for Sinn Féin. I am conscious of the proud history which has formed me and the great example shown by those who bravely went before me. I relish the opportunity to represent all the people of this island and, in particular, those of Connemara, Aran and Galway; our rural communities; Irish speakers and those from Gaeltacht areas; our farmers, fishermen and tradespeople; those working for the State; people with special needs; those carrying burdens, be they mental or economic; and our artists, musicians and entertainers. I acknowledge the support of my wife, children, relatives and friends, comrades in Sinn Féin and the many others who have helped me to achieve the great honour bestowed on us.

I pledge to work tirelessly with my fellow Senators and parliamentarians to make Ireland a proud but humble example of success, prosperity, charity and generosity once more. It is up to us. With this office, however, comes the burden of responsibility. A friend of mine, upon hearing of my election, sent me a goodwill message with a blessing which I wish upon to all my colleagues as we undertake our new responsibilities. Her blessing was that my election would afford me the opportunity to do the work we as a country need those in power to do. I look forward to sharing this experience with my colleagues and agus guím gach rath ar bhúr saothar, fad saol agus sonas oraibh. San obair seo ar fad, beidh ról an Chathaoirligh rí-thábhachtach. Tréaslaím leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht a cheapachán. Beidh gach tacaíocht aige uaimse agus ó mo chomhleacaithe i Sinn Féin lena chuid dualgas a chomhlíonadh go críochnúil agus go proifisiúnta i gcónaí. "Is féidir linn" a chairde, ach is fúinne atá sé. We can do it but it is up to us.