Verona Murphy wins vote to become Ceann Comhairle of 34th Dail
The Independent TD for Wexford will be the first female to occupy the role.
Verona Murphy is the new Ceann Comhairle of the 34th Dáil.
The Independent TD for Wexford will be the first female to occupy the role.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil TDs appeared to have mostly stuck to their guns and listened to their party leaders by backing the Independent TD for Wexford.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Verona Murphy as Ceann Comhairle race heats up
READ MORE: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael set to back Verona Murphy for Ceann Comhairle position
However, there is likely a number in each party who defected and did not follow directions from Micheál Martin or Simon Harris as Ms Murphy only received 76 first preference votes.
There are nine members of the Regional Independent Group, 48 Fianna Fáil TDs and 38 Fine Gael TDs. If all had voted for her, she would have received 95 votes.
After the first count, Ms Murphy was just 11 votes short of meeting the quota.
Sinn Féin’s candidate Aengus Ó Snodaigh won 48 first preference votes.
There were two Fianna Fáil candidates in the race. Outgoing Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl received 27 first preferences, while John McGuinness received 21.
Mr McGuiness was excluded on the first count and his votes were redistributed. Some 15 of his transfers went to Mr Ó Fearghaíl but he was then disqualified on the second count. Ms Murphy got none of Mr McGuinness’ transfers.
Ms Murphy won the election on the third count after receiving 13 of Mr Ó Fearghaíl's transfers to bring her to 89.
As TDs gathered in Leinster House for the first day of the 34th Dáil, the Ceann Comhairle candidates put forward their pitches in hopes they would win votes.
Ms Murphy said the public feel politicians are “removed from the reality of day to day life”. She said: “In order to ensure that every member is heard, this House must function smoothly and efficiently.
“Every member is equal, irrespective of their political persuasion, political party or grouping, every member has a mandate, and no one mandate is more important than the other. If elected as Ceann Comhairle, I will uphold these simple principles.
“Much debate has been heard around the turnout in the recent election. In many constituencies, the turnout dropped below 50%.
“Large numbers of people in the electorate feel alienated from the political process. They feel politicians are removed from the reality of day to day life. They feel that this chamber is a talking shop that achieves nothing.
“It is incumbent on all of us to change that perception, to make the House more relevant to those that feel excluded.”
Fianna Fail’s Mr O Fearghail said that people looking in at Leinster House do not feel “engaged” in the political system.
“At times, they are frustrated and they feel disenfranchised, and it is up to us to change that. 40% of our people did not vote in the general election,” Mr O Fearghail added.
“We must aim to include, not exclude, to engage and not isolate. To change this, we need to come together and overcome what are relatively minor difficulties very often between us.”
Mr McGuinness, took a swipe at Fianna Fáil leader Mr Martin, when he said there are ““two sets of opinions here”.
“There is a view that political parties can nominate, suggest to their members how to vote and to in a way, control the outcome,” he said. “I have a different view.”
At least one senior Fianna Fáil minister did not clap for Mr McGuinness after his speech.
Meanwhile, Mr O Snodaigh said that it is important that the person elected can speak Irish, which was perceived as a clear dig at Ms Murphy and Mr McGuiness who are not proficient in the Irish language.
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