The role of the ceann comhairle

A chara, – Is it time to look again at the Constitution regarding the position of ceann comhairle? Why should the incumbent be chosen from among the elected TDs? Should an independent chairman of undoubted impartiality not be appointed? After all, he or she is expected to be totally impartial in dealing with the business of the House.

With an independently chosen ceann comhairle, the ridiculous situation of one constituency being deprived of the ability to vote for all their seats would disappear.

The constitutional issue would need to be dealt with by a referendum but the electorate would get what should be their full entitlement to elect all 160 TDs. – Yours, etc,

JIM DUGGAN,

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Raheny,

Dublin 5.