Dublin Bay South TD, Ivana Bacik, has said she is "honoured and delighted" to have been elected the 14th leader of the Labour Party, succeeding Alan Kelly who resigned earlier this month.
Deputy Bacik was the sole candidate, after nominations for the position closed at midday today.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Ms Bacik paid tribute to Mr Kelly and thanked him for the support he has shown to her.
She said she hopes they will see former members return to the Labour party, adding that there has been "a great groundswell of good will" with many people rejoining recently.
"I joined the party in the late 80s and the party has been written off more than once and has come back," she said.
"I think there’s a real appetite there for Labour values – for our core values of equality, solidarity and fairness... and a really strong appetite for a positive change."
In a speech to her party and supporters, Ms Bacik said she was honoured, excited and quite overwhelmed at her elevation.
Referencing Mr Kelly early in her speech, she said wanted to acknowledge the immense work, commitment and contribution made by her predecessor.
The new Labour leader defined herself as a life-long campaigner, adding the position of women in Irish society continues to motivate her because they are still more likely to experience poverty, be abused or killed in their own homes.
She said there needed to be a mini-budget to tackle the cost of living crisis, adding: "Most importantly, I believe that Ireland needs a pay rise."
Detailing other policies, deputy Bacik said there needed to be a publicly funded pre-school place for every child.
On the war in Ukraine, the new Labour leader said Ireland should lead the move to expel Russian diplomats from EU countries, as well as push for a ban on all imports of Russian oil and gas.
She told RTÉ News that Ireland should unilaterally expel Russian diplomats - even though she said an EU-wide move would send a more powerful message.
Asked how she can ensure Labour to move on from the criticism heaped upon the party as a consequence of its tenure in Government between 2011 to 2016, she said that Labour was now out of government longer than in government.
She declared it was time to move on, given nobody in their 20s was eligible to vote in 2011.
Deputy Bacik said it was too early to discuss going into government with Sinn Féin or any other party.
Instead, she said her job was to define Labour through clear policy measures, clear communications and a constructive approach.
Deputy Bacik said she sincerely hoped she could repay the trust which the party had placed in her today - and she promised to fight for change, as she has always done.
The event took place in Ringsend, in the new Labour leader's Dublin Bay South constituency.
Only only elected to the Dáil last year, she is now Labour's 14th leader and faces a massive job to restore the party's fortunes.
Read more:
Bacik faces challenge of making Labour relevant again
Labour Party leader Ivanka Bacik has said her party is pressing for a mini-Budget immediately to address the cost-of-living crisis. She also called for a pay rise for workers | https://t.co/NBUzbkmm16 pic.twitter.com/7vtbRANXKj
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 24, 2022
