Mark Duffy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That will not be in my gift this term, anyway. I congratulate the Cathaoirleach as well as all the Senators from across the Chamber who have been elected or appointed to this House. I have come through three election periods and I thank the people of Mayo who have shown their faith in me in two local elections, a recent general election and in the Seanad election. As we know, our families and friends make such an incredible sacrifice for us to be here in these privileged positions. I thank the people of Mayo, my family and friends and my partner, Sarah, who is in the Public Gallery. She has had great patience over the past nine months with three elections. I thank Sarah for her support along the way.

It would be remiss of me to not acknowledge my experience in the past six years in Mayo County Council. Something we have all heard when knocking on doors around the country is the lack of power and strength at a local government setting. It is something on which the Cathaoirleach has done great work and on which we have engaged as councillors in recent years in the context of the review and reform of local government. This House, however, is a great opportunity to not only advocate for it but also to really fight to ensure we have a whole swathe of changes to bring decision-making and democracy closer to the people on the ground. We know, as councillors who have come up through the ranks and been elected to the Seanad, how important it is to have decision-making right at the heart of community because while many councillors in communities across Ireland are activists and are driving change, they are often doing it with their arms tied behind their backs.We need to resource local authorities and our elected members in every way possible to encourage the next generation of young representatives across Ireland to improve democracy. It is within our gift not only to use our voices but to fight strongly for it so that they are not itty-bitty, incremental changes but are strong, sizeable and demonstrable support and changes to improve local democracy. I look forward to fighting for those and supporting councillors and Senators who want to enable that change.

I thank former Senators Paddy Burke and Lisa Chambers and congratulate them on their service here. I am the sole Mayo representative in the House. There is strong representation from other counties. I look forward to working with all Members, including the Cathaoirleach, in the years ahead.