The new leader of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns has said she is "unashamedly ambitious about the future" and while she may not fit the stereotype of a politician "that is not a bad thing".
Speaking at her first news conference, the Cork South West TD said: "Let's not forget that some of the most experienced politicians in the Dáil bankrupted the country a little over a decade ago."
She emphatically ruled out any merger with the Labour Party, saying: "Trust has been broken between people and the Labour party."
It was time for something new, she said.
Ms Cairns also ruled out any electoral pact with any other party saying: "I'm not interested."
She insisted that the Social Democrats will not go into Government to "make up numbers" and would drive a hard bargain, citing a dramatic change in housing policy and implementation of Sláintecare as red lines.
The Social Democrats leader rejected suggestions that she was too inexperienced for the job, saying: "I have plenty of experience."
She said she was "excited and eager" for the party's future adding: "I am up for the challenge. I am determined to give it everything."
Ms Cairns said there were thousands of people who do not feel represented in politics - she urges them to get involved or to vote for it.
She said trust was a key thing for her leadership, building and maintaining it with the public, by sticking to her promises.
'Housing disaster'
Earlier today, Ms Cairns raised the issue of the "housing disaster" in her first public intervention since becoming new leader.
Speaking in the Dáil, she said she was a member of the first generation that would be "worse off than our parents", adding nowhere is the "political betrayal" more obvious than in the "housing disaster".
She said the share of 25 to 35-year-olds who owned their own home was down by more than 50%, saying it stood at 60% in 2004 and this fell to 27% by 2019.
The 33-year-old said people her age cannot buy homes because "they are spending all their money on rent" which is "sky-rocketing".
Ms Cairns said the result that people had their adult lives "on hold" because they cannot "get out" of the family bedroom, leading to stress, anxiety, a lack of hope and despair.
She said there was "unprecedented housing disaster" while Fine Gael had been in Government.
Cork South West TD Holly Cairns has raised the issue of the "housing disaster" in her first public intervention since becoming the new leader of the Social Democrats earlier today | Read more: https://t.co/AfM2v4iovQ pic.twitter.com/NTiI1YwBKh
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 1, 2023
In reply, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar congratulated Ms Cairns on her elevation, adding as "one leader to another" is was an "enormous honour", but it was also a "very tough job" in which much of the work went "unrecognised".
He said he wished her "fair wind", but noted that most new parties did not survive their second leader.
Regarding housing, the Taoiseach said he was "deeply concerned" about the fall in home ownership, but noticed that "nearly 70%" currently own their own home.
He said he wanted this to be a reality for younger people and said he was "determined, this year, we turn the corner".
Mr Varadkar said he was "encouraged" that 16,000 people or young couples bought new homes in 2022 - the highest in 15 years.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl also said he wanted to congratulate deputy on her elevation.
Ms Cairns was the only candidate to seek the position vacated by outgoing joint-leaders Róisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy.
She became a councillor in 2019 and was elected to the Dáil the following year in the General Election.
Ms Cairns is a horticulturalist by profession and runs a mixed farm at Turk Head, between Ballydehob and Skibbereen.
