Ballinasloe FG councillor Aisling Dolan has been selected as one of Taoiseach Micheal Martin's nominees for the Seanad.
The Roscommon/Galway candidate for FG in February's election has had a meteroic rise in her first year in local politics.
From being a vocal campaigner effecting social change in Ballinasloe and East Galway for several years, she was elected to Galway County Council last May.
Later in the year, she announced that she was joining Fine Gael and she stood for them in the General Election.
Her elevation to the Upper House will now create a vacancy for Fine Gael on Galway County Council, and local party members will decide on who will replace her in the co-option this summer.
In a sgtatement to the Galway Advertiser, she said "This is a win for the people of Roscommon and Galway. It’s an honour and a privilege to be a member of the incoming Oireachtas and fight for our fair share of investment.
“As the only Fine Gael representative in this constituency, I will be a strong and determined voice to represent our area at a national level. As a councillor, I’ve worked with colleagues across the political spectrum to get projects over the line and this experience will be crucial in upper house of the Oireachtas.
“I’ve contested three elections in less than a year - local elections in May 2019, the General Election in February and the Seanad election in March. As a result, I’ve met hundreds of people on the doorstep and engaged with representative groups in farming, hospitals, nursing, family carers, business and community development associations.
“I will now have the opportunity to dedicate myself full-time as a Senator to fight for investment into East Galway and Roscommon, continuing the excellent work carried out by my party colleague Maura Hopkins.
“My priorities have always been steadfast - healthcare, environment & investment into our region.
Fighting for towns under 10,000 who struggle to compete for investment to ensure access to essential health services, to revitalise our business community and to protect farmers income in the face of Covid19 & negotiations on CAP and Brexit.
To look at how remote and flexible working can support people in our towns and villages to work from home – something that is extremely relevant as we move forward.
To stimulate community groups in our region to secure funding in local government and national programmes.
“I’d like to thank the Fine Gael party and in particular, party leader Leo Varadkar, for his support and faith in me and to thank my fantastic team of campaigners, friends and family who have helped immensely in the drive to secure an Oireachtas seat in this area.
“I am driven by where I come from – to make this a place to live, a place to work and a place to visit,” Senator Dolan said.
