Everything you need to know about Verona Murphy as Ceann Comhairle race heats up
As part of the government negotiation talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Regional Independents grouping has proposed that Verona Murphy, an independent TD from Wexford, be put forward for the position
As the 34th Dáil meets for the first time, Verona Murphy has a fighting chance of becoming the next Ceann Comhairle.
As part of the government negotiation talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Regional Independents grouping has proposed that Ms Murphy, an independent TD from Wexford, be put forward for the position.
If elected, she would be the first female Ceann Comhairle in the Dáil’s 105-year history.
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Here is everything you need to know about her.
Who is Verona Murphy?
Ms Murphy, 53, was born and raised in Wexford. She has been an independent TD for the county since 2020. She has one daughter, Robyn, 30. She left school at 15 and moved to the UK. She later came back to Ireland and went on to do her Leaving Cert when in her 30s.
She later completed a Transport Manager's course at Waterford Regional College and started Verona Murphy Transport when she was still in her 20s. In 2006, she completed a Law Degree in IT Carlow.
In 2015, she was elected President of the Irish Road Haulage Association, becoming just the second woman to hold the position. She gained prominence by talking about the likely impact of Brexit on Irish logistics.
Was she not previously in Fine Gael?
Yes, she was. Famously, her time in Fine Gael did not go very well.
Ms Murphy was chosen to contest the 2019 by-election for Fine Gael in Wexford. Her campaign was plunged into controversy when she suggested asylum seekers who come to Ireland need to be "deprogrammed" as ISIS may have “influenced” them.
Ms Murphy stated that her comments were a “poor choice of words”. She did not win the by-election, losing out on the seat. Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader at the time, said he was glad she was not elected and that it had been a mistake to run her. She was then de-selected as the party’s general election candidate.
Will Fine Gael back her?
It is looking like they might. Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Monday he stood by his 2019 comments, stating that the decision to de-select her is “looking better by the moment”. He also said there was “very good reason” why she was not still a party member.
However, the Irish Mirror understands that Fine Gael will likely back her in the vote.
Who else will back her?
Micheál Martin told Fianna Fáil that he was recommending that his party give Ms Murphy their support.
However, with sitting Ceann Seán Ó Fearghaíl and John McGuiness also in the race, many TDs could vote for one of their own. The independent TDs are also likely to row in behind her. As the vote is private, we will never know who voted for whom.
One Fianna Fáil TD told the Irish Mirror that while Ms Murphy could do well on first preference votes, it is hard to see where she will get transfers. A senior Fine Gael source suggested that she should have 85 votes, but this depends on how everyone in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil behaves.
She has proven herself to be a competent performer on the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee and this could also win her some votes.
When will we find out if she is Ceann Comhairle?
The Dáil will sit from 10.30am on Wednesday. Voting for the Ceann Comhairle is expected to start quickly but could take several hours due to the number of candidates in the running and the fact the vote is done using the PR-STV system.
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