Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the warm welcome and all the Senators for their messages and words of support. It is a real honour for me to take up this seat in Seanad Éireann. I am grateful to the Green Party for selecting me for the by-election and to all the Senators and Deputies who nominated me to contest it. Yesterday, I enjoyed a wonderful tour of this Chamber and its surrounds given by the Clerk of the Seanad, Mr. Martin Groves, and the Clerk Assistant, Ms Bridget Doody. I thank them for that. It was lovely. I also thank all the ushers and staff who also have been very kind and welcoming.I look forward to working with all the Members in this House over the next few months, which I hope will be a good few months. I am particularly delighted to join with the Civil Engagement group, comprising Senators Higgins, Ruane, Kelleher, Black and Dolan. I recognise the direction of the group and the work they do and I hope I can contribute to that.

This is an immensely proud day for myself and for my family, particularly my husband, Mark, and my children, Heidi, George, Charlie and Poppy. I thank my parents, Jeannie and Lucien, for their love and support. I want to remember their son and my only sibling, Jay, who passed away only a few months ago. It is a quite emotional time for them.

Finally, I acknowledge my predecessor, Grace O'Sullivan, who is now a Member of the European Parliament. It was Grace who gave me my first look inside this historic building, shortly after her election to the Seanad in 2016. I have followed her progress closely. She has asked me for help and I have been willing to give it. I very much enjoyed working with her and seeing how she worked with the Civil Engagement group. She has been an inspiration to me to get involved in politics up to this level. I also look forward to working with my Green Party colleagues in Leinster House, namely, Deputies Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin. I acknowledge my colleagues around the country, where we have a large number of councillors. I would love to work with them to build a better, greener future for our wonderful country.