Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)

I could not be prouder today, coming from Dublin Central, to heartily congratulate our national team. I give a huge shoutout, obviously, to Troy Parrott from the north inner city. The north inner city and Dublin Central gets a lot of bad press. The media love a bad story. He exemplifies and epitomises the best of the greatest of people. There are the greatest of people in the north inner city. His hat-trick was immense. None of us will ever forget it. It goes down in history. Caoimhín Kelleher's composure and vision and Liam Scales's crucial assist remind us all that football and team effort is what counts. I also give a shoutout to our manager, Heimir Hallgrímsson. His leadership and belief in a group of lads spurred them on and enabled them to deliver the results that have us, for the first time since 2002, in a World Cup play-off. I heartily congratulate them all.

More importantly, all the young boys and girls in Dublin Central and all around the country who are kicking balls should take inspiration. They can do it too. It is an enormous achievement. It is something that has the inner city and capital buzzing. The whole country is united with this, is lifted and bursting with pride because of what those lads have achieved. They should enjoy it. We have a long road to March. We will all travel that road with them. I genuinely believe that we believe that they have the courage to deliver for us all. Comhghairdeas and beir bua, lads.