James was elected to the Dáil to represent Kildare North in 2016 and 2020 and prior to that was a member of Kildare County Council, serving as Mayor of Naas in 2015.James studied Maths and Computer Science at Trinity College and Law at Kings Inns where he qualified as a Barrister. He practiced with a speciality in maritime/freight law. James first got involved in politics as a commuter activist and remains a strong advocate for improving transport links, rail and bus services, better walking and cycling infrastructure including greenways. Within the Dáil he has become a strong voice on Technology and Digital Policy introducing ground-breaking legislation on Social Media Regulation and on Cyber Harms. He served as opposition spokesperson on Science & Technology from 2016-2020 and as Chair of the Justice Committee from 2020-2024.