I graduated with a degree in Computer Science from Trinity College Dublin in 1993. My time in Trinity opened my mind and my love of nature led me to elected as a County Councillor, a TD and become Minister of State for Environment.  Now I want to represent you in Seanad Éireann as a strong voice for climate action, innovation and inclusion. 

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I was born in Dún Laoghaire and lives there with my family.  

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My work as Minister:

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• I introduced Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme. Ireland was lagging behind other countries by not having a money-back scheme for bottles and cans and I am delighted to have delivered on this. Thanks to your efforts, Monkstown Tidy Districts has reported a 70% drop in can and bottle litter since the scheme was launched and the annual Coastwatch autumn survey has found “a massive reduction” in plastic bottles, aluminium cans and steel tins washing up on Irish shorelines.

• Politicians have long talked about broadband and I am delivering on the National Broadband Plan to bring fibre internet to every community in Ireland by 2026. There are now teams working across the country, connecting 15,000 homes and businesses a month. 

• In October 2024, I brought an Emergency Bill to the Dáil which allows for electricity credits to be paid to support households and families with the cost of living, following the announcement in Budget 2025 that all domestic electricity customers will get €250 off their electricity bills. This will help over 2 million households pay their electricity bills this winter.

• In July 2024, I visited the UN in New York to meet over 100 countries to raise money for medical and food supplies for Palestinian refugees. We channelled these funds through UNRWA, the main organisation in Gaza which will spend over €2 billion this year.

• Disposable vapes are littered across our streets and beaches and are incredibly difficult to recycle. I called for a ban on disposable vapes in 2023 and am currently working on legislation to make this happen.

• In June I launched a €2m fund to install over 350 public water fountains in public spaces and buildings, including to parks and town centres across Dún Laoghaire. 

• I have used my experience in IT and public procurement to reduce public sector costs and waste. I recently launched a scheme for the state to buy remanufactured laptops: which saves plastic waste and cuts costs to taxpayers by around 30%. 

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