I am proud to represent the people of Wexford in the next Dáil.

I have enjoyed the trust of the people of this constituency for a long period of time. I have never taken their support for granted and I don't do so now.

Our task however is to look to the future, to give our people hope and optimism. Things can and will be better and that change will begin with the election of two labour deputies in this constituency.

I am honoured to be joined on this occasion by Pat Cody. He showed his mettle in the last local elections winning seats on both Town and County Councils. He understands the needs and concerns of working people. He will make an excellent Dáil Deputy.

The second step on the path to change will take place when the next Dáil meets.

To do these things will require hard work, commitment and belief . We know our core values - fairness, equality and solidarity.

The People of Wexford know full well what we stand for. They know what we have achieved in the past. They know they can trust us with the future.

The facts are there for all to see. When last in Government we created a thousand new jobs a week. Real jobs, not speculators jobs - jobs in a real economy making things that people waited to buy. We had a balanced budget. We left behind a budget surplus.

We will have to pick up the pieces again. And we will do it. The task will not be easy but it will be done in a fair way.

It is said "success doesn't come to you. You go to it". We will have success for our country again. And this party will be the engine that will drive us to it.

Our job now - the job of every Labour supporter is to spread our message - win votes for Labour and bring change about.

Connolly wrote: "We who hold Wolfe Tone's principles, believe that any government which would successfully grapple with the problem of national freedom must draw its inspiration not from the mouldering records of the past, but from the growing hopes of the living present and the vast possibilities of the mighty future".

We will shake off the mouldering record of Fianna Fáil's past and draw our inspiration from the vast possibilities of Ireland's mighty future.