Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Feargháil appointed Ceann Comhairle

Newly elected Ceann Comhairle Sean Ó Fearghaíl started his new job by quipping: “let’s do some work”.

In a secret ballot on the first day of the 32nd Dáil, the Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare South received 56 first preference votes. Fine Gael’s Andrew Doyle had 32, Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin 24, Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan 24 and Bernard Durkan of Fine Gael 21. The quota was 79, with 157 TDs voting.

In the second count, with Mr Durkan eliminated, Mr Ó Feargháil had 60 votes, Mr Doyle 48, Ms O’Sullivan 25 and Mr Ó Caoláin still on 24.

The Sinn FéinTD was then eliminated, with Mr Ó Feargháil moving to 61 votes, Mr Doyle staying on 48, with Ms O’Sullivan gaining 17 votes to 42. Nonetheless, the Independent TD was next out, with 13 of her transfers going to Mr Ó Feargháil and 10 to Mr Doyle.

Therefore, after the four counts, Mr Ó Feargháil stood at 74 votes to Mr Doyle’s 58.

He has now been formally elected Ceann Comhairle by affirmation of the House.

Dutifully

He made his formal declaration, saying he would dutifully and solemnly and to the best of his ability and knowledge, carry out the duties of the role.

Mr Ó Fearghaíl said it was an “immense personal privilege to hold this position and not one I take lightly”.

He paid tribute to his wife Mary Clare, his family and the voters of Kildare South and to the other nominees for the position.

Mr O Fearghaíl also paid tribute to his predecessor Seán Barrett for the work he had done “in a deeply difficult time for this country”.

“I implore you the members to respect each other’s voices as each of us stand not simply for ourselves but for our constituents,” he told the House.

He said “disagreement is the beating heart of a democracy but argument is the lifeblood of a vibrant chamber and mutual respect is the foundation importance of debate”.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was really important in a changed political landscape that Mr O Fearghaíl was the first Ceann Comhairle since the foundation of the State "to draw your authority from the vote by secret ballot of all of the members of this chamber".

He wished him “good luck” and said he hoped it was “as benign and as serene and as exciting as it is here today”.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin congratulated him and his family who had “toiled with you and worked with you on many an election”.

He described Mr Ó Fearghaíl as a committed and skilled parliamentarian and a person with a very strong social conscience”.

He believed Mr O Fearghaíl would bring an “open and accommodating style” to the role.

‘Decency’

Tánaiste Joan Burton described him as “a man of decency and integrity”. She said that he received significant support from other parties and Independents.

She hoped it would be a productive parliament under his guidance and it would be up to him to steer the reform process.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said he looked forward to reforms the Ceann Comhairle would bring back as chair of the sub-committee and he said it should be done within a few weeks.

Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae congratulated Mr O Fearghaíl “on behalf of the Healy-Rae party” and he thanked Mr Barrett whom he said he had small rows but not bad rows.

He said he looked forward to meaningful reform of the Dáil.

Independent Alliance TD Finian McGrath congratulated the new Ceann Comhairle and paid tribute to Mr Barrett, who he said “never personalised rows”

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said "this is a very diverse Dáil and you will have the respect of this side of the House".