I take this opportunity to reflect on the past four days of polls and elections, especially in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. Along with my fellow Senators, I wish to take the opportunity to congratulate all those candidates who were successful and commiserate with all those who were unsuccessful in either the council or European Parliament elections. We are in changing times and we are witnessing a seismic shift from the more recognised voting patterns from an intelligent electorate who have sent clear messages to all the parties.

They do not want ambiguity, mixed messages or negativity and gloom; neither do they want to see entrenched positions being taken based on history and rhetoric. They want a clear manifesto and clearly defined objectives. They want positivity and solutions to problems. They want people who are prepared to take on local, national and international challenges by working with others for the greater good. Most of all, they want change. This was highlighted more than ever yesterday north of the Border when Naomi Long was elected as the first MEP who did not define herself as either a unionist or a nationalist. In a province where for decades we have focused on voting to keep people out of office based on party politics, rather than on voting to put people in, the tide may be turning. At the count yesterday Diana Dodds of the DUP was returned first, with Martina Anderson of Sinn Féin who had received the most first preferences and Naomi Long of the Alliance Party who had captured more votes than any other candidate taking the second and third seats. I congratulate all of them and it must be noted that they are all women.

Hear, hear.

It was a truly historic day and clear evidence that the electorate wanted clear representation for all, irrespective of cultural identity and not defined by historical identities. I listened with concern as unionist voters supporting Alliance Party candidates were described by one political leader as unionist with a small "u", implying that there were different ranks of unionism. I disagree with and take offence to this comment. Unionism is unionism and nationalism is nationalism, just as loyalism is loyalism and republicanism is republicanism. In 1959 Johnny Cash sang about "Forty Shades of Green". I suggest there have always been 40 shades of green. I also argue that there are 40 shades of orange, all with unique perspectives and points of difference, but unionism, nationalism, loyalism and republicanism have changed and are not as they were ten, 20, 50 or 100 years ago. They will change further. Politics needs to acknowledge and reflect this, rather than refer to old-style types and labels. If we need to take anything from what happened at the weekend, it is that the people of Ireland and the United Kingdom are ahead of their politicians. The new generation of voters will place higher demands on politicians and leaders to deliver on promises. As we conclude this round of elections, everybody has a responsibility to reflect on gains and losses, successes and failures and strive to work across both Houses of the Oireachtas to deliver security, peace and prosperity for all the people of Ireland, irrespective of their political affiliations or identity. People, parties and politics will change, but the business of government will go on and the important discussions on health, housing, education, agriculture, transport and climate will all endure.

I thank all of the Sinn Féin candidates who represented the party with great passion and integrity over the course of the election campaign and for the past five years and more. I thank each and every one of the 164,296 people who gave us their No. 1 vote in the local elections and indicated a preference for us. I also extend míle míle buíochas to the 323,029 people across the country who gave us their No. 1 vote in the European Parliament elections, as well as those who indicated a preference for us. I congratulate Martina Anderson on topping the poll in the North and also Naomi Long.

Hear, hear.

It was important to encourage people to vote in favour of the United Kingdom remaining in the European Union and candidates who wanted to remain in the Union. The voices of those in the North who wish to remain within the European Union have to be heard, but they are not being heard at Westminster. I have no doubt that Martina and Naomi will work very well together in the European Parliament and hope Diane Dodds will do likewise.

Five years ago there was a surge in Sinn Féin's level of support when it won an additional 105 council seats. It was always going to be a challenge for us to hold all of those seats. This time around the surge was in the level of support for the Green Party and we lost some valued councillors. I thank them for their hard work. I also thank their families for their sacrifices and their campaign teams.

I congratulate those who won their seats. Many of them topped the poll in different areas. I commend those who form part of the Seanad teams here in Leinster House for their performances, including Senators Grace O'Sullivan and Alice-Mary Higgins. I hope I am not leaving anybody out. I also commend Ms Grace McManus, who is part of my party's team, and Ms Geraldine Donohue, who is part of Senator Boyhan's team, who were both successful, as well as Senator McDowell's parliamentary assistant, Ms Samantha Long, and Mr. Séamus Mac Floinn, who just missed out on seats. It takes real courage and commitment to stand before the people one wishes to serve, so I wish all of them well in the future and thank them for standing up for what they believe in.

This is the Green Party's election, and I congratulate the party wholeheartedly. We must all work together to tackle this climate emergency, and Sinn Féin is committed to doing so in a way that incentivises the reduction of carbon emissions while protecting the least well-off in society and ensuring that big businesses and corporations pay their fair share.

For Sinn Féin, elections have come and gone over the past 100 years or so, but this one has been a particularly humbling experience, and one from which we will learn and grow. Sometimes the things that hurt the most teach the greatest lessons, and in a society where thousands of children are homeless and working families live hand to mouth, Sinn Féin and republican politics have never been needed more. Our activists are committed to change, and to standing up for those who need it most. We have a job to do and we will continue to use our mandate at all levels to pursue progressive change and, of course, a united Ireland.

Finally, we have to examine why so many people did not come out to vote. If we want to demonstrate our commitment to participatory democracy, we will provide the resources for active citizenship programmes throughout the State. I cannot understand why citizens who reach the age of 18 are not automatically registered to vote. Why are barriers put in place, such as sending young people to Garda stations, making them fill out forms and present them at local authorities, when there is no need for them whatsoever? Could the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government come into the House to have a full debate on how the barriers to voting and fully participating in democracy can be removed once and for all?

I have to confess to being a political animal, and that my vote was taken off me when I was a Deputy. I never got an answer as to why, but it is extraordinary-----

Was the Cathaoirleach taken off the register?

Yes. In this instance, my son and his wife were also removed from the register, so they must not like the name O'Donovan.

They gave me a wife.

Lucky woman.

Pity her.

The marriage was unconsummated.

I will move on to Senator Bacik.