Rebecca studying the form en route to Conference 2010

Why did you decide to run for Office?

Timing, luck and opportunity were the factors in running for office. However, effecting positive change doesn't just lie with elected representatives. As members of the party we all have a role to play in the fight. I joined the Labour party because I wanted to see an Ireland that was more equal, a country which allows all its citizens to reach their full potential and a country that supported the most vulnerable in society. We are the only party of progressive change in this country.

What was the best part of the election campaign?

Meeting people is definitely the best part of a campaign. There is something wonderful about rocking up to a door, talking to a stranger about the issues of the day and engaging them on a political level. At the end of every canvass we would have a debriefing on the ideas and issues of the evening. Canvassing can really challenge you. You meet all sorts of people, which forces you to look at things from a different perspective, it forces you outside of your comfort zone. That always has to be a good thing.

What was the worst part of the election campaign?

An election campaign is a bubble; you don't have time for anything else. Even on days off you are obsessing about the campaign. Realising I was missing out on huge parts of my friends lives wasn't a nice buzz. I remember at one stage being in town -to pick up velcro for posters-on a sunny Saturday. Out the car window we were watching people enjoy the city. I remember saying to my director of elections "look at them, that used to be us, we used to be fun."

What are your three top priorities for your term?

I believe climate change is the biggest challenge facing us politically. Cities are where we produce the most emissions and where we can have the biggest impact. My number one priority is to ensure that Dublin leads the way in climate innovation. I have proposed that Dublin City Council establish a city farm in the inner city as part of this process. In a few years urban faming is going to be huge. We have a history of urban horticulture, it is time we re-discovered that culture.

I represent the inner city which has suffered greatly from the collapse in the regeneration projects. I want to see the area's who have suffered greatly from poverty, both physically and socially regenerated. In modern Ireland there is no reason for people living in public housing to have to suffer the indignity of sewage coming up through their pipes or mould on the walls.

Lastly- Trying to regenerate the city though using underused or derelict sites for short term community gain such as pocket parks.

What's the most infuriating aspect of the council?

The power to change or do anything lies in the hands of the officials. Their instinctive position is to say no. There is a deep conservatism embedded in official Ireland. For example, I have been trying to do some work on community gardening in my area. The officials don't want to use any of their land for short term community gain because they are waiting on the boom to come back and for them to sell on the land for development purposes. The civil service doesn't lend itself to thinking outside the box.

What's the most inspiring aspect of the council?

If you are tenacious enough you can get some wins. The housing committee recently passed a motion of mine to look at the housing situation for people who are victims of trafficking. It doesn't win any votes or have an impact on a huge number of people but it's the right thing to do. For those small numbers of people, who have been through unimaginable horror it will make a difference.

Any advice for someone considering putting themselves up for election?

Surround yourself with a good team. Politics is a team effort and you are only as good as the people around you.