Holly Cairns committed to leading party into election as she announces pregnancy

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has said she is committed to leading the party into the general election after announcing she is pregnant.

Ms Cairns said she felt vulnerable announcing the pregnancy after going through two miscarriages in the past year.

The Cork South-West TD is expecting a baby girl with her partner Barry.

Ms Cairns, who became party leader in March of last year, told RTE’s Sunday With Miriam show, that she and her partner are “overjoyed”.

She added: “We have been trying for some time.

“We are absolutely delighted. Obviously you’d be nervous about speaking out about it in case it doesn’t go to plan and all of that stuff, but overall fingers crossed, it’s looking good.

“Speaking about it is really important as well because I do know a lot of women have juggled having a baby and work, I am definitely not the first person who is going to be doing that.

“But I do acknowledge the unique job that I have in being leader of a political party and this is kind of uncharted territory, we don’t really have a template for this.

“Particularly to party members and colleagues, just to reassure people that I have quite honestly never been more committed to leading the party into the next general election.”

Ms Cairns said she is 17 weeks pregnant but did not announce the news earlier because she did not want to distract from her party’s performance in local government and European elections.

She added: “I went through two miscarriages in the last year.

“It is something we know happens to quite a lot of people, I think it is one in three women experience it and we just don’t hear a lot about it.

“Hearing other women speak about it I found maybe comforting, you feel like you are less alone, you are not the only one going through it.

“I do think it is really important that we talk a little bit more about that. It is not easy.”

Ms Cairns said: “I think that makes me feel a little bit vulnerable announcing this pregnancy because I think when it happens a couple of times you are kind of wary it might happen again, but everything is looking good for this pregnancy, we are past that danger period.

“I am so relieved because I think out of the last year I have probably spent about seven months in the first trimester.”