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My Record Since 2016

538

Legislative Amendments

4

Legislative Initiatives

16

Bills Co-Sponsored

50+

Substantive Law Changes Made

538

Legislative Amendments

4

Legislative Initiatives

16

Bills Co-Sponsored

50+

Substantive Law Changes Made

I’m running to represent Trinity graduates in the Seanad because I want to continue to be a strong, experienced voice in the Oireachtas for what matters to Trinity graduates: social justice, equality and equitable access to education.

Why I’m Asking for Your Vote

As a member of the 25th Seanad, I’ve worked to make a meaningful contribution to law making through my work in the Seanad chamber, through the Oireachtas committee networks and through my advocacy work outside Leinster House. I’m proud of my record of achievements in this area, some of which I’ve set out below. 

 

We’ve also worked to find new ways of working in the Oireachtas. After the last election, I co-founded the Civil Engagement Group; an alliance of mostly independent senators who organised together to bring the voices of civil society groups into the Seanad. We’ve collaborated to have a real impact on law-making in areas like housing, migration, occupied territories and the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, with the support of our NGO partners.

Progress in Education

 

 

  • Strong advocate for increased exchequer funding for higher education, institutional autonomy for third level universities, and successfully led opposition to student loans.

  • Co-authored major committee report on reforms to sex education; made successful proposals on consent, school ethos, pornography, external providers and objective information.

  • Led out on efforts within the Oireachtas to successfully end the ‘baptism barrier’ and removal of religion as an admission criterion in vast majority of schools.

Promoting Women's Equality

 

 

  • Vice-chair of the special Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment, active referendum campaigner

  • Led out on Seanad debates on abortion legislation, including ending the 3-day waiting period, legislating for exclusion zones and ending criminalisation of doctors

  • Secured the introduction of out-of-court-hours barring orders for domestic violence cases

  • Increased legal protections for those in domestic abuse using the mediation process; collaborated on a cross-party basis to legislate for offence of coercive control i.e. psychological abuse

  • Drafted legislation on banning non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases

Supporting the Vulnerable

 

 

  • Introduced legislation on a health led-approach to addiction; removing minor criminal sanctions for drug possession

  • Legislated to introduce binding guidelines on tech companies for the protection of children online

  • Legislated for a legal requirement for patient advocates to be involved in running the health service, as per CervicalCheck report recommendation

  • Successfully halted the 75 year long sealing of records of institutional abuse

Participation, Empowerment & Sustainability

 

 

  • Co-sponsored disability rights legislation on changing place facilities, inclusive playgrounds and accessible bus stops

  • Introduced legislation protecting right of civil society organisations to engage in political advocacy; on lowering the voting age to 16 and enacting major Seanad reform

  • Vice-chair of special Joint Oireachtas Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community

  • Advocated for LGBT+ inclusion; access to transgender healthcare and co-sponsored conversion therapy ban

  • Led bill on State divestment from fossil fuels through the Seanad; co-sponsored legislation on banning micro-beads and marine protected areas

  • Progressed legislation on assisting rehabilitated offenders in returning to education and employment

If you’d like to read about my future priorities if re-elected to the Oireachtas, you can read them here.

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