Cairns focuses on Social Democrats growth after return from maternity leave

Holly Cairns has pledged to prioritise party growth as the Social Democrats leader returned to work after maternity leave.

The Cork South-West TD, who gave birth to her daughter on general election polling day last year, resumed her full leadership duties as her parliamentary colleagues gathered in Dublin for a think-in event ahead of the Dail’s return from summer recess on Wednesday.

The event was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes who apologised on the eve of the think-in ahead of the Irish Daily Mail publishing images of him dressed in “blackface” make-up at a fancy dress party 16 years ago.

While a media conference with Ms Cairns was dominated by that issue on Tuesday morning, the party leader was also able to articulate her priorities in the coming Dail term.

“As it is my first day back since maternity leave, I hope you all indulge me for a moment while I thank the people of Cork South West for re-electing me,” she said.

“It is my greatest honour to represent my community. I also want to thank everybody who voted for the Social Democrats around the country in the general election.

“I have to say, I never thought that I could have an election that would be more memorable than my first one, where I won by a single vote. But giving birth to my first child on polling day 2024, safe to say, I think that topped it. She certainly knows how to make an entrance.

“So, it was a massive day for me, personally and politically. Kind of surreal to not be able to cast my vote, to not be in the polling station or in the county centre when I got re-elected.”

Ms Cairns said it was “incredible” to see the party increase its seat count from six to 11.

“We’re going from strength to strength, from election to election,” she added.

“We doubled our councillors in the local elections. And doubled the size of our parliamentary party in this election.

“So it’s a time of growth for the party, and that’s an exciting time for us. In the final few days in the lead up to polling day, I was inundated with messages and comments and everything online from people saying, ‘I wish I had a candidate in this area and that area’.

“And I want to say to those people that I heard you and growth in this Dail term for the party is a massive priority.”

Ms Cairns said her party would be “dogged” in holding the government to account.

“Although it is my first day back, I feel like somewhat of a broken record,” she said.

“Our priorities remain the same. Our focus will be on disability, on housing, on Gaza, on healthcare and childcare, and our focus is holding this government to account.

“We heard a lot of promises in the lead up to the election, specifically on disability, specifically on the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill (on banning Israeli imports from the Palestinian Occupied Territories), on housing – we were misled in terms of figures (on housing). We will be dogged in holding this government to account, and they will be our priorities.”