The Labour Party has never before had the opportunity to introduce two by-election winners to the House on the same day. I know Deputy Ryan who is returning to the House and Deputy O'Sullivan who is gracing it for the first time will make a remarkable contribution to its proceedings. I wish them every success and, on behalf of the Labour Party, heartily welcome them to Dáil Éireann.
Returns to Writs: Dublin North and Limerick East. - Introduction of New Members.
The Clerk of the Dáil made the following announcement:
I gcomhlíonadh Bhuan-Ordú céad a seasca de na Buan-Orduithe i dtaobh Gnó Phoiblí, tá orm a chraoladh go ndearnadh, sna Corrthoghcháin a bhí ann an t-aonú lá déag de Mhárta, míle naoi gcéad nócha a hocht, de chionn an Teachta Séamus Ceimmig d'fháil bháis agus an Teachta Rae de Búrca d'éirí as, na comhaltaí sea a leanas a thogadh don Dáil:
In compliance with Standing Order 160 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, I have to announce that at the by-elections held on 11 March 1998, consequent on the death of Deputy Jim Kemmy and the resignation of Deputy Ray Burke, the following Members have been elected to the Dáil: Dáilcheantar Liumnigh Thoir, Constituency of Limerick East — Jan O'Sullivan; Dáilcheantar Bhaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh, Constituency of Dublin North — Seán Ryan.
Tá Rolla na gComhaltaí sínithe ag an dá Theachta de réir Bhuan-Ordú a hAon.
Both Deputies have signed the Roll of Members in accordance with Standing Order 1.
This is a great day for the Labour Party. It is nice at any time to have two new Deputies elected. It is not something one would get fed up with. I can, therefore, understand why the Labour Party feel very pleased today.
I congratulate Deputy Jan O'Sullivan and wish her well. I am told she is the first woman to be elected in Limerick East in many decades. We see men and women as being equal in this House and have been trying for many years to improve the representation of women. The election of Deputy O'Sullivan will be seen, therefore, as an added bonus. She worked extremely hard during the years at all levels. She worked her way through the system. We in Fianna Fáil, congratulate her sincerely. It was a great victory.
I have known Deputy Seán Ryan for a long time in all walks of life in north County Dublin. He has had his ups and downs. He has had a few great days and a few terrible days. This is a great day for him. I congratulate him and wish him every success.
I also thank our own colleagues, Sandra Marsh who battled hard in Limerick East and Michael Kennedy in Dublin North. They finished in second place behind two excellent Deputies. I thank them for their efforts and for what they did for our party. Like all good politicians, we will take our medicine.
I congratulate the two new Deputies. I welcome Deputy Jan O'Sullivan to the House for the first time and wish her well. As Minister, I remember her making many incisive interventions in debates in the Seanad. I have no doubt, therefore, that she will grace this House with her presence.
This is a good day for women. The candidates who finished first, second and third in Limerick East were women. This will help to redress the gender imbalance. We lost some of our number in the last general election. I pay tribute to my party's fine candidate, Mary Jackman, who nearly made it.
I welcome back my friend, Deputy Seán Ryan. Those of us who have worked with him in Dublin North know how diligently he works for his constituents. Now that he is back in the Dáil he will keep us on our toes.
This is also a great day for the families of Deputies O'Sullivan and Ryan, although there is a sense of poignancy about the proceedings. Shortly we will pay tribute to the memory of a late Member. This is a sign of the strength of our democracy and that life goes on. I wish both Deputies a full and fruitful career in the House.
I join the Taoiseach and Deputy Owen in welcoming back to the Dáil Deputy Seán Ryan with whom I have spoken on many occasions in the other House in recent months. I know how much he missed being here. By any standard, he is a hard-working public representative and I have no doubt he will apply the same vigour to the task ahead as he did on a previous occasion.
I welcome Deputy Jan O'Sullivan to Dáil Éireann, although she is not a newcomer to the Oireachtas. I am delighted the people of Limerick have elected their first woman Deputy. It is extraordinary that so many parts of the country have still to elect their first female Deputies. I wish Deputy O'Sullivan well in the task ahead. She has four male colleagues to contend with — Deputies Noonan, O'Dea, Wade and O'Malley. I am sure she will be well able for them.
Hear, hear.
I know they have represented the female gender well in recent years but I am sure they are delighted there is a more even gender balance in Limerick East. As Deputy Owen said, this is a great day for the families of Deputies O'Sullivan and Ryan. It is a privilege and an honour to be elected to serve in this House. It is not a privilege bestowed on everybody. Those on whom it is bestowed should respect it for what it is.
I welcome wholeheartedly Deputies Jan O'Sullivan and Seán Ryan. It is a great day for the Labour Party to have two new Deputies elected in by-elections. It is a sign of the strength of independence of mind of the electorate that they are prepared to elect Deputies of high calibre to this House in by-elections regardless of their normal voting patterns. This is a growing feature of Irish politics. Long may it last. I have no doubt Deputies O'Sullivan and Ryan will make excellent Deputies. Deputy Ryan proved this on a previous occasion while Deputy O'Sullivan has proved her worth in the Seanad. Long may they remain in the House.
Ba mhaith liomsa chomh maith fáilte a chur roimh an bheirt Teachta Dála.
Although one could describe Deputy Jan O'Sullivan as a new Deputy, she is renowned as a former Senator and mayor of Limerick. I know her as a person who speaks out on various issues a trait for which she is to be admired and commended. It is not always easy, comfortable or popular to do so. On behalf of the Green Party, I welcome her to the House.
I extend a wholehearted welcome to my constituency colleague, Deputy Seán Ryan. Although this may sound strange coming from a rival, I shared his disappointment at his failure to win a seat in the general election following which a photograph appeared on the front page of our local newspaper, The Fingal Independent under which it was stated that Deputy Ryan was congratulating me. The fact is I was commiserating with him in a heartfelt way on being pipped for the seat. It is important that I put the record straight.
I also congratulate my constituency colleague, Paul Martin, on his forthright performance as a first time candidate and Eric Shepherd in Limerick East.
I congratulate Deputies Seán Ryan and Jan O'Sullivan. I welcome Deputy O'Sullivan to the House. We have been friends for many years. She is a former member of Limerick Corporation and was an excellent mayor of the city. I wish her many happy years as a Dáil Deputy. I also congratulate the other candidates who stood in Limerick East on the manner in which they conducted their campaigns. I pledge to work with Deputy O'Sullivan and the other constituency representatives for the betterment of Limerick East in the way the late Jim Kemmy did.
Ba mhaith liomsa freisin mo chomhgháirdeachas a ghabháil le Jan agus Seán as an bua íontach a bhí acu sna fothogháin.
I join my colleagues in tendering my congratulations to Deputy O'Sullivan and Deputy Seán Ryan on their excellent performance and success in the recent by-elections in Limerick East and Dublin North. This is a particularly important day for the Labour Party and it has every right to enjoy its success.
I commiserate with all those who contested both by-elections, particularly my two colleagues, Ms Jenny Shapland and Mr. Paul Donnelly, to whom I extend good wishes. I hope I will have the opportunity on a future occasion to be joined in my lonely pursuit in the House.
I welcome Deputy O'Dea back to the House.
I commiserate with Deputy Rabbitte on the failure of Democratic Left again in Limerick East. I extend my congratulations to the two new Deputies whom I know extremely well. Deputy O'Sullivan has worked long and hard for the people of Limerick and her success is richly deserved. I wish her many years of it.
Not a word for Gerry Collins.
I congratulate Deputy Seán Ryan and particularly Deputy O'Sullivan. I wish her every success in following in the late Jim Kemmy's footsteps. I hope she has a successful career here. She had an introduction in the Seanad where she was successful and I have no doubt she will help us all to represent the people of Limerick in Dáil Éireann.