Nessa Cosgrove (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Comhghairdeas leat, a Chathaoirligh. Beir bua agus go n-éirí an t-ádh leat.

As someone who grew up in a house filled with politics and history, is mór an onóir dom a bheith anseo inniu. I am the only Seanad representative from Sligo or Leitrim. I congratulate everyone else who ran and everyone who was elected. I thank my Labour Party colleagues for believing in me. I thank the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for nominating me. I thank my Labour Party comrades in Sligo, Leitrim and south Donegal for supporting me. I also thank the people of Sligo, Leitrim and south Donegal. Without their support, votes and belief in me, I would never have been elected and would never have had the opportunity to be elected. I particularly thank my husband, Conor; my three children, Sarah, Tom and Saul; and mo thuismitheoirí, Seán agus Theresa O'Callaghan ó Chaisleán na Leacht i nDroichead na Bandan.I suppose they instilled an interest in politics in me and in members of my family from a young age. I can add this to the Cavan connection - my in-laws in Cootehill in County Cavan.

Representatives of rural constituencies face similar issues to those in urban areas. We face a lack of housing, inadequate transport infrastructure, low pay and under-resourcing of local authorities. Despite this, areas of the north west, west and midlands are often overlooked because we have issues that are particular to our areas. This is why I want to be a representative. I am proud to have been recently appointed Labour Party spokesperson for rural and community development and for the Gaeltacht to represent muintir na Gaeltachta agus na hoileáin. I will represent people well in this area. For years, we have had a non-existent train service in the north west and west. There is overforestation of Sitka spruce in Leitrim and people are living in crumbling houses all across Mayo, Sligo and Donegal. We are looking for 100% redress.

As a recently appointed spokesperson for workers' rights, as a proud trade unionist and as a youth worker all my life, I will be a strong advocate for people who are fighting within organisations under section 39 and section 58 and for low-pay workers, and for the vulnerable people who they represent, in essential front-line services across areas of youth work, addiction, healthcare and disability.

Tá mé ag iarraidh go mbeimis ag obair le chéile. As for how I will treat this House, I think we can bring about massive changes to it in the respect we can give to it. I want us to work with each other so that we can constructively make sure the north west, the midlands and the west stay on the map.