First time Tipperary TD makes maiden speech in Dáil Éireann

First time TD for North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny, Ryan O’Meara today made his maiden speech in Dáil Éireann.

The Fianna Fáil TD stated that it was “the honour of a lifetime” to stand in Dáil Éireann for the first time to speak as a collective voice for the people who placed their trust in him in last November’s General Election.

Deputy O’Meara said: “As one of the youngest members of this House, I made a promise to be a new, fresh, and energetic voice for the people of North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny and I intend to work every day to deliver for my area and the Irish people on key issues of local and national importance.”

Continuing, Deputy O’Meara said: “I would like to thank the Fianna Fáil organisation in North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny for their support during both the Local and General Elections last year, and to particularly acknowledge my family and friends for their support.

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“It is a privilege to represent our Party in Dáil Éireann and to stand here today as a Fianna Fáil TD.

“I want us, this house and my Party to have ambition for our future, for what we can collectively achieve, as we move Ireland forward, together.”

Deputy O’Meara then continued to raise several issues that arose as a result of the recent Red Warning Storm Éowyn, including assistance for farmers for the felling of ash trees affected by ash dieback on public safety grounds, and for greater levels of maintenance of trees and forestry near power, fibre optic and phone lines.

Concluding, Deputy O’Meara also raised the issue of water shortages in Nenagh as an example of why Uisce Éireann must equip water treatment plants with backup generators to prevent large-scale water outages following major storms.