Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Cathaoirleach came third on Treasure Island. Thankfully, he has become better at winning elections since then and has not come third since, only first. He came first today and is now sitting in the Chair. I wish him the very best of luck. He is deeply committed to public service and I know he will do an excellent job. I am very proud that he was the Fianna Fáil nominee today. I thank our colleagues across the House who supported him in attaining the position. I pay tribute to his family and his supporters. None of us would be here, and the Cathaoirleach would surely not be in his new position, without our supporters and families. It is a very special day and I hope Senator Mark Daly and his family will get to celebrate it in these very strange times. I congratulate him once again.

I also commend the outgoing Cathaoirleach, Senator O'Donovan. Everybody who served with him in the last Seanad will know his ability and his commitment to public service. He was an excellent Cathaoirleach.

Senators Doherty and Chambers, the new Leader and Deputy Leader of the House, are two excellent colleagues. I am sure they will fulfil their roles with great enthusiasm and dedication. I look forward to working with both of them in their new roles.I am very honoured and delighted to be here today, having received a phone call on Saturday afternoon. It is a great honour to serve in this House once again. I am particularly happy to be a Member of the House that has 40% female representation. That is a first in Irish politics. While other speakers have referred to the fact that this does not represent full diversity, it is definitely a step on the right road, especially when one bears in mind that women have been most affected by this pandemic. We have seen domestic violence rates go through the roof. We have a shocking problem in this country of women dying in their own homes. We have the economic impact of this pandemic, in particular on women who were on the margins of the economy as it was. The additional emotional and other burdens of homeschooling and domestic duties that have been put on women have further set them back in their economic disadvantage. Over the coming months and years I would like the House to play a real role in discussing how we make Ireland a better place for women. We must re-establish screening services, which have been suspended, as they are vitally important to women's health. I will speak to the Minister for Health to see how we can get those vital screening services up and running.

On a final note, I am a proud republican. I am a proud Fianna Fáil person and I will not tolerate any suggestion that Fianna Fáil does not represent the ordinary working person as have always done. It might suit some people's agenda to push us to the right so they can occupy the left but I can tell them I will not stand for it.