The last of the Seanad counts took place on Friday and I congratulate all those who contested the election, winners and losers alike. I wish to thank those who nominated me for the Seanad election and all those who voted for me. Obviously it was disappointing not to have been elected but I was greatly encouraged by my strong showing on the 1st preference count. To have such significant support within the party is hugely encouraging for the future. It was a very interesting experience and I learned a lot about the country, the party and the system over the course of the few weeks. Mary.

Japan
I was proud to represent the Oireachtas Committee for Enterprise, Tourism and employment on our recent delegation to Japan. For almost 70 years Ireland has enjoyed strong diplomatic relations with Japan. Ireland opened it’s first embassy in Tokyo in 1974 In 2025 Ireland renewed and strengthened its presence in Japan