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.

Protection of Retail Workers Bill
In April 2025 Mary introduced the Protection of Retail Workers Act 2025, a Bill aimed at amending the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 to create specific offences for assaulting, threatening, harassing, or abusing retail workers while they are carrying out their employment. Retail workers across Ireland are on the