Shane Curley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Ar an gcéad dul síos, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a ghabháil leat as ucht a bheith tofa mar Chathaoirleach inniu. I offer congratulations to the Cathaoireach on his new role and wish him the best of luck for the next few years in the work ahead.

It is a huge honour to be standing in this Chamber as a Senator. It is a proud day for my family, my neighbours at home in Raheen and the people of the Loughrea area, who gave me my chance by electing me twice to Galway County Council. It is also a proud day for my fellow members in Fianna Fáil, who gave me so much support over the years. I campaigned on two primary issues, the first of which was local government reform, which I believe in. There is acceptance around this Chamber that local government needs to be reformed. The powers of councillors at local level have been eroded over the years and councillors want to play a more meaningful role in their local authorities. To the councillors who placed their faith in me, I say that I have heard them loud and clear. I know the issues they face. I want more powers for councillors at local level. Their conditions need to be improved. I am here to be the best advocate for them that I can be.

The second issue was education. I thank the TUI, the ASTI and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors for nominating me as their candidate. As a secondary school teacher, I want to be a strong voice for education in the Seanad and to work with them. To my fellow teachers around the country, I say that I know the demands of the role they play and I want to be a strong advocate for them in the coming years. To the students I taught in Dublin, as a newly qualified teacher, and at home in the Presentation College in Athenry, I say that I know second level education needs to change and that students' experience in classrooms around the country could be much better. I cannot wait to get to work for them.

I was elected on the cultural and educational panel and the culture side of that role is also extremely important. It is something I want to focus on over the next few years. I developed a grá for the Irish language in Kilnadeema National School outside Loughrea, as well as a love for traditional Irish music in the Kilnadeema branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The national school is located beside the local GAA pitch, where I grew up playing hurling, our native Irish sport and another key part of our culture. I was not playing hurling very well and mainly at junior level over the past few years. I loved it nonetheless and our culture is important.