Holly Cairns, the Social Democrats TD for Cork South West speaks to the Your Politics podcast on the last day of the Dáil ahead of the summer recess.
A new councillor in 2019, she stood in the general election this year becoming one of the four new TDs in the party.
An environmentalist and farmer she is often asked why she didn't join the Green party but she says the Social Democrats TDs Roisin Shorthall and Catherine Murphy both inspired her as they stood out as hardworking politicians.
Equality and gender balance are a passion and she argues women need more support in order to encourage them into politics.
She says her experience so far has left her confused about what politicians actually do and what they should be doing but that won't put her off standing again.
Deputy Cairns is a TD in the same constituency as her partner, Fianna Fail TD Christopher O'Sullivan who also won his first seat this year - she says they never wanted their relationship to be part of the election story.
We also discuss what's been happening in the Dáil this week from ministerial cars to pay to big messages getting lost.
Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify and Google through the RTÉ Player, through Stitcher or download it here.
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