THE NEW Ceann Comhairle,Séamus Kirk (64), has been a Dáil deputy for 27 years, having been first elected for the Louth constituency in November 1982. He served as a minister of state in the Department of Agriculture for five years.
A native of Drumkeith and living in Knockbridge, he was a farmer before becoming a full-time politician and also played intercounty football with Louth.
Indeed, Kirk himself has attributed his entry into politics to a horrific football injury he sustained in 1972. In a league game against Down, his ankle was almost severed in a tackle from an unknown opponent.
The injury was so bad, involving multiple breaks, that there was the possibility of amputation. Later, a corrective operation left one leg shorter than the other. As it transpired, the injury necessitated him being in plaster for two years.
It was during that time that he decided to enter politics, being elected a Fianna Fáil councillor in 1974.
Eight years later, he was first elected in the Dáil and has retained his seat ever since. His seat was considered to be among those most at risk in the 2007 general election with the entry of Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness into the field. Kirk adopted a far stronger republican tone during the campaign. In the event, he topped the poll ahead of his Fianna Fáil colleague, then minister for justice Dermot Ahern.
His ministerial career was relatively brief, a junior minister with responsibility for horticulture in two Charles Haughey-led Governments between March 1987 and February 1992. He was dropped by Albert Reynolds when he succeeded Haughey as taoiseach.
Kirk has been the chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party since 2002. This position was filled by Deputy John Browne of Wexford last night.
Kirk is a former chairman of the joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs. He was also an unsuccessful candidate in the East constituency in the European parliamentary elections in 2004.
Yesterday, he said he was by nature a progressive person and would fully embrace and implement any changes in Dáil procedures. He also said that he would encourage the modernisation of the House.
CEANN COMHAIRLE: WHAT THE ROLE ENTAILS
Ceann Comhairle Séamus Kirk will be entitled to a basic parliamentary salary of €100,191 and an officeholder's allowance of €125,005, as well as a State car and driver.
Mr Kirk, who became chairman of the Dáil yesterday, will now be precluded from active participation in politics, but remains free to make representations on behalf of his constituents.
He should be returned to his Louth constituency after the next general election, as the Constitution provides for the automatic re-election of an outgoing ceann comhairle who wishes to be a member of the incoming Dáil.
As well as presiding over proceedings in the Dáil chamber, the ceann comhairle is also chairperson of the Committee of Procedure and Privileges.
Previous holders of the ceann comhairle's office include Séan T O'Kelly (1919-21), Eoin MacNeill (1921-22) and Seán Treacy (1973-77).
Given the unprecedented circumstances surrounding John O'Donoghue's resignation from the position, Oireachtas officials had to devise a new procedure to allow Mr Kirk to assume office after his election in the Dáil yesterday by 87 votes to 51.
The ceann comhairle is the official host to visiting parliamentary delegations and the post holder can also represent Dáil Éireann at the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and other international meetings.
In the absence or temporary incapacity of the president, the ceann comhairle is a member of the commission that exercises and performs the powers and functions conferred on the president.
Mr Kirk becomes a member of the Council of State which aids and counsels the President in relation to the exercise and performance by her of certain powers.
He is also ex officio chairperson of the Civil Service Commission.
MARY MINIHAN