Cllr. Niall Kelly

Just after 6pm, on Tuesday, 1st July 2008, I was co-opted on to Belfast City Council, to replace former SDLP councillor Carmel Hanna.

Carmel had stepped down from the council, in line with the party's policy of ending dual mandates in areas where a co-option to the council is guaranteed.

The whole process had been pretty nerve-wracking for me, as I initially had to take part in an internal party caucus, to replace Carmel. Belfast City Council has a policy whereby it will attempt to fill a casual vacancy by co-option, rather than by-election. I was pretty sure that everything on the evening would go according to plan, but up until the moment I formally replaced Carmel there was always a thought in the back of my head that it could all fall apart.

I would like to thank a number of people who have been of enormous support to me over the past number of months, including the SDLP Group leader on Belfast City Council, Cllr. Pat Convery, who proposed my nomination, and Cllr. Bernie Kelly who seconded my nomination.

Special thanks must go to Carmel Hanna for all the encouragement and advice that she has given me over the past number of years. Carmel worked tirelessly to promote social justice and equality in the council chamber. She also stood strong on behalf of her constituents and I intend to do the same. This is a chance for the SDLP to bring forward the next generation of public representatives and ensure that the party will continue to have a voice long in to the future.

I received a great welcome from many different councillors, from accross the political spectrum, and although I am sure we may clash in the future, I would like to express my gratitude for the warm welcome they gave me.

I have been given an enormous opportunity by my party and I will do all that I can to repay the faith that has been placed in me. There will be many challenges in the future but I feel that I am well placed to face the future and will give my all to represent all the people of Belfast.

Over the coming months, and hopefully years, I will use this blog to keep people informed of what exactly I am doing on the council, and the decisions that the SDLP Group are making to try and build a better Belfast for everyone.