Elisha McCallion (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do want to congratulate you on taking up the role today.

I am deeply honoured to be standing here today, representing the people of the North. Quite a number of people have suggested that there is no representation from the North. Of course, that is not right. Two of us here live in the North. It is deeply disappointing, however, as has been said by many other Members, that we do not actually have a voice for unionism in this Chamber. That has been reflected across the political divide here today.

I am from a very proud working class community in Derry, Galliagh. I was born and reared there and I proudly reared my own three children there. I am also very proud to be a Derry girl. We will be saying Derry more than Kerry, hopefully, in the coming months.

Derry has always been renowned for its history, not least in terms of its involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for a new, agreed, united Ireland, call it what one wants. Derry is the home to two political giants, the late Martin McGuinness and John Hume. Both were the product of the city. They knew far too well the dire consequences of being discriminated against, being excluded from political life and denied the respect for their own culture. Both spent their lives in their own distinctive ways in trying to end the injustices of partition that affected the people that they both represented very well.

One of their greatest legacies, however, is that they helped to bring peace across Ireland, a peace that they gave to all of the people of Ireland, nationalists, unionists and those who aspire to be neither. They did that on the principle of the Good Friday Agreement. We now have a new and evolving society. Change is in the middle of the momentum propelling it forward. Derry is located in the north west of the island. There is an invisible border between Derry and Donegal. Both are in the periphery of the two states. The people of Derry and Donegal have felt hard the negative effect of partition with decades, if not a centenary, of underinvestment and missed opportunities.

During my term, I will be a vigorous advocate for investment in the north west and for its people who have shamefully been let down by this State and others over the past 100 years. A few short months ago, the winds of change were blowing a gale in the ballot box when the people of this State called time on the domination of the politics of the past, of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. They voted for Sinn Féin in unprecedented numbers and elected other parties and Independents on a mandate of change. Unfortunately, we have both conservative parties back in power. The agenda for change, however, will continue to be demanded by Sinn Féin. We will lead in that crusade in a bid to improve the lives of ordinary people.

The real change that I, Sinn Féin and others seek is the independence and reunification of this country. It is clear to see that partition has failed Ireland. Partition has failed residents here in Dublin. Partition has failed residents in Belfast. Partition has failed your own constituents in Kerry, a Chathaoirligh. It has certainly failed the people of the north west.

A new Ireland is no longer just an aspiration. People across the length and breadth of this island are talking every day about what a new, agreed, shared, united Ireland will mean for them. It is about time we took a grasp of that conversation. That conversation will continue no matter what happens. We need to ensure that we involve as many people in the national conversation as outlined in the Good Friday Agreement.

I will spend my time in this Chamber advocating, under the principles of the Good Friday Agreement, for a border poll, for a unity referendum, again call it what one wishes. It is over 20 years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed. The people across the entire island, unionists, nationalists, republicans and others, deserve to have their say. I look forward to working with you, Chair, and all other Members over the coming term, especially those in this Chamber who are agents of change.

Go raibh míle maith agat.