Callaghan and Murnane O'Connor pledge fresh start for constituency
Catherine Callaghan, newly elected TD for Carlow Kilkenny signs in on her first day with clerk of the Dáil Peter Finnegan
AS THE FIRST cabinet meeting of the new coalition concluded at Áras an Uachtaráin last Thursday night with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin voted in as taoiseach, Fine Gael’s Catherine Callaghan, TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, took her seat in the Dáil for the first time while Jennifer Murnane O’Connor sat for the second time.
Ms Callaghan said: “It's a huge privilege and an honour to take my seat in the Dáil. I'm delighted that the government is formed and I'm just eager to get going with the work that I was elected to do on behalf of the people at Carlow-Kilkenny and the broader country as well. I'd like to make some really positive changes.” Speaking about her experience taking her seat as part of the 34th Dáil, Ms Callaghan said: “It's hard to articulate – it's the sense of occasion that you get when you're sitting in the chamber, because you're following in the footsteps of all of these great people that went before you.
“I'm sitting there in the Dáil and I feel such a sense of pride for my family and for my village – the little village of Kildavin – and for my parish, my county and the constituency.
“I think what made the difference for me is the fact that I’m a grassroots candidate, I'm not from a political family,” said Carlow’s newest TD, adding that her background as a member of the defence forces, full-time carer, working as an SNA (special needs assistant) and as a farmer before being elected to the Dáil makes her relatable.
Taking her seat for the second time, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor said she wanted to wish the new taoiseach, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, well before going on to outline her plans as TD for Carlow-Kilkenny.
“There's a lot of challenges, there's a lot of work to be done … and it's important now that we deliver now where we need to deliver.” Ms Murnane O’Connor talked about plans for new housing, the continuing development of Holy Angels Day Care Centre and Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) in Carlow town.
Speaking about taking a seat in the 34th Dáil, she said she was “honoured and proud” and gave her commitment to the people of Carlow-Kilkenny. “I'm a very proud Carlow woman, so I'm delighted,” she added.
“My dad, Jimmy Murnane, was in politics for a long time and I thought that he would have been very proud.”
