The new ‘baby’ of The Dáil says he intends to hit the ground running
AT the tender age of just 22, Fianna Fáil’s James O’Connor may be the ‘ baby’ of the 33rd Dáil, but he is not short of experience when it comes to the cut and thrust of political life.
The third youngest ever Fianna Fail TD ever elected – behind Lorcan Allen (1961) and Mary Coughlan (1987) – the Youghal native was elected to Cork County last May prior to taking the final seat in Cork East, albeit without reaching the quota, last Sunday.
Prior to that, Cllr O’Connor had interned with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and TD Jim O’Callaghan, and also worked with the former Junior Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor.
Before that, at the tender age of 14, he was a member of Comhairle na nÓg, where he helped to successfully lobby the then transport minister Leo Varadkar on the issue of child-friendly public transport fares.
Speaking the The Corkman immediately after being elected, Cllr O’Connor said he intended to hit the ground running.
“It has been a long and exhausting campaign, probably the most difficult few weeks of my life. I could not have done it without the backing of my family, my friends, neighbours and the people who were here today and have supported me along the way,” said Cllr O’Connor.
“I am relieved and very honoured to be standing here as a 22-year-old elected to Dáil Eireann. I am going to bed now and the work will start in the morning – when I wake up as a TD. I want to start straight away to address the many key issues facing people across the entire constituency,” he added.
While Cllr O’Connor said he was disappointed that his party colleague Kevin O’Keeffe was unable to retain the Cork East seat he won in 2006, he had no doubt Deputy O’Keeffe would bounce back.
“You know, I felt we had a good shot at getting two candidates elected in Cork East. Unfortunately, today was not Kevin O’Keeffe’s day. I believe he has a good future ahead of him and have no doubt whatsoever he will be back again, he said.
“The O’Keeffe’s have given extraordinary political service across the constituency for many years, and I would never underestimate the strength of the O’Keeffe name in terms of their impact locally. I sit alongside Kevin’s sister Deirdre (O’Brien) on Cork County Council. She is an exceptional politician who I know will continue to work hard to keep up that tradition.”
In relation to the future make up of the next Government, Cllr O’Connor said that, while it was too early to say what will happen, “nothing can be ruled out.”
“It’s a kaleidoscope in terms of the result, and we are not going to have a full and realistic picture until the middle of next week at the earliest. I think it is fair to say at this point nothing can be ruled out,” said Cllr O’Connor.
“That said, we must ensure we have the most stable outcome for our country going into a politically volatile future in terms of Brexit and other difficult issues facing our country. So, I would be very anxious that a stable Government be formed as soon as possible.”