Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Jul 1981

Vol. 329 No. 2

Election of Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

The Taoiseach

Tairgim:

Go dtoghfar an Teachta Pádraig Ó hAirt mar Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

In proposing Deputy Harte as Leas-Cheann Comhairle I would remind Members that he is a long standing Member of the House, he is approaching the 20th anniversary of his first election to this House. Deputy Harte has had considerable relevant experience, having been Chairman of the All-Party Committee on Irish Relations in 1973 and in 1977 and having been Vice Chairman of the Inter-Party Committee on the Implications of Irish Unity as well as being a Member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. His experience, his service and his personal qualities which have endeared him, I think to every Member of the House, render him especially fitted for the office for which I propose him.

Mr. Haughey

Tairgim:

Go dtoghfar Séamus Ó Tonnaí mar Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

In proposing Deputy Tunney as Leas-Cheann Comhairle I do not wish to reflect in any way on Deputy Harte or on his suitability for the office of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. We are proposing Deputy Tunney for a number of reasons, first, because of his personal qualities and his status in the House. We believe that he is a Deputy who has the respect of Members on all sides, that he is held in high regard by Members in general and that he will make an excellent Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I wish to point out also, that Deputy Tunney is fluent Irish speaker. It is important that a certain volume of the business of this House be transacted from time to time in Irish and it is in support of that wish of ours also that we are putting forward Deputy Tunney for this position. We believe he is competent to conduct every aspect of business in this House in Irish and that he will do everything in his power to encourage the use of Irish in our discussions and debates. Finally, I wish to tell the House that we are putting him forward on the basis of what we see as a need for balance in our affairs in this House.

For a long time there was a tradition in this House that one side supplied the Ceann Comhairle and the other side supplied the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I am not going to go into the circumstances in which that tradition was broken because I am quite certain that if we were to argue from our side that it was a Coalition Government who broke that tradition somebody from the other side would argue equally forcibly that Fianna Fáil were responsible for the first break with that tradition. Parliamentary historians can decide who was responsible.

At this stage I believe that this Dáil should restore that balance. The Ceann Comhairle is an Independent Member of the House but he was the nominee for the Chair of the Coalition parties. It was their right to put you, Sir, there and it was your right to accept it. It is our view that, in order that a reasonably fair balance should obtain in our affairs, we should have the opportunity on this occasion to put forward our nominee as Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

That is especially so in the new type of Dáil we have here. There is a very unusual spread of membership. I do not know if a similar composition of membership has obtained in any Dáil for a long time. We have a Coalition Government, two parties who have a bare majority over our party, with a number of Independent Deputies who apparently reserve to themselves the right to vote from time to time in any way they wish. We have an unusual combination of forces and membership in the Dáil. We believe it would be fair and reasonable that, if the Coalition Government parties have their nominee in the Chair as Ceann Comhairle, this side of the House is entitled to have their nominee as Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

On the basis of Deputy Tunney's personal qualities, acceptability and suitability, because of his great love for and competence in the Irish language and because of our wish to see a reasonable balance obtain in the House, I have the honour to propose Deputy Jim Tunney as Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Again, I wish to reiterate that I do not want to reflect in any way on the capacity of Deputy Harte as a Deputy of this House.

Dr. Browne

As one of the Independent Deputies who has to make a decision once again, one that may be important, I should like to deal briefly with the question of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. This Parliament is certainly not going to be one of soft options for anybody. Deputies Tunney and Harte are probably two of the most popular Deputies in the House. Both of them are very experienced Deputies who have been Members of this House for a long time and both are highly competent to carry out the job for which they have been nominated. It will be a very difficult decision for me to vote for one rather than the other but, as has been said before, this is not a popularity contest. It is a political matter and, as such, I am going to treat it without any implied imputation on the merits of either of the Deputies concerned.

The practice in recent years has been that the Ceann Comhairle and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle have been assimilated into the spoils system of winner take all. As in so many other matters in swimming against the tide, I do not particularly favour that idea. To that extent I think I should take a truly independent position in resisting what has been a recent trend and try to move it back to the position that obtained, and which was referred to by the Leader of the Opposition, where the Ceann Comhairle was nominated by the Government and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle was nominated by the Opposition.

The Taoiseach spelled out briefly but cogently and impressively the list of Deputy Harte's qualifications. Deputy Harte is an experienced Deputy and many of us have listened to him on many occasions with considerable interest on various issues. He knows the procedure of the House extremely well. As the Taoiseach said, he has many personal qualities that have endeared him to every Member of the House but with the exception, it appears, of the most important Member—the Taoiseach. Many of us believe that Deputy Harte should not be competing for the very important post of Leas-Cheann Comhairle but one that in the minds of most of us is a lesser post to that of being a member of the Cabinet or even a Minister of State. Personally I am surprised that Deputy Harte is not a member of the Cabinet or a Minister of State. However, I do not feel it is part of my job or the job of this House for us to appear to be making amends to Deputy Harte for something the Taoiseach has not done for him by giving him this kind of consolation prize.

Both components of the Coalition Cabinet seem to be dominated by repaying old scores or paying off old debts rather than a preoccupation with what I consider to be the first responsibility of a Taoiseach and Tánaiste and that is trying to get the best possible Cabinet in the national interest. In all the circumstances I deeply regret that I cannot support the nomination of Deputy Harte. I found Deputy Tunney to be a most energetic Minister. In his Ministry he was very courteous at all times and very helpful if one wrote to him and wanted things done. He has always behaved, and I am sure he will behave in this job, with total impartiality. I propose to vote against Deputy Harte and in favour of Deputy Tunney.

Mr. Kemmy

Like Deputy Browne I have been placed in a most invidious position regarding the appointment of a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I indict both sides of the House for not being able to reach a civilised agreement on this matter. A winner take all approach was mentioned by Deputy Browne and also in the press during the week. That is a cruel approach. My instincts would be on the side of fair play and democracy. In the last two Governments there has been a winner take all approach in regard to the appointment of Ceann Comhairle and Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I deplore this attitude. Unless we have some kind of civilised attitude in our approach to these appointments, which are non-contentious offices, we cannot point a finger at the North and talk about power sharing. We are very good at that and saying they should do this, that and the other. Our example is not very good. Perhaps we can learn something from what I have said.

I find myself in a difficult and delicate position. On the one hand I favour fair play and democracy, and on the other it has been presented to me by the Coalition that a vote on the appointment of a Leas-Cheann Comhairle could be represented as a vote of no confidence in the Government at an early stage. I do not know whether that is true or not. I am not naive enough to take heed of everything that is said to me in that regard. I do not want to be used or exploited by anyone. I am sure both Deputies would make very good Leas-Cheann Comhairles and I have nothing against either Deputy. The job should be filled by someone who, above all, is intelligent, dignified and has a sense of fair play in dealing with all sides. My decision on how to vote has been a difficult one to make. It would be inconsistent for me, having voted with Deputy FitzGerald and the Coalition on a previous occasion, to cast my vote in the other direction today. It could be misrepresented. While I deplore the fact that both sides are not big enough to come together and work out some formula regarding this appointment, unfortunately I must go the opposite way to Deputy Browne and cast my vote in favour of Deputy Harte.

Mr. Alderman Dublin Bay-Rockall Loftus

I heard this morning on the radio that people were wondering how the independents would vote today, as if when we vote on one side or the other we are on that side. I should like to state that as an independent I am voting on every issue on the basis of an informed conscience and what I consider to be the national interest. I do not consider that I should be placed in the invidious position that because of the way I vote today I am in the hands of one side or the other. I will never be bought as long as I live.

I do not believe in a winner take all approach. We have seen this in the city council. I was elected as a community politician in City Hall and saw the position there. Fine Gael and Labour had a majority over Fianna Fáil and Community and, therefore kept the office of Lord Mayor. The office of Lord Mayor is not worth very much anyway in this regard. Instead of rotating it they kept the office themselves. I do not like to see that happening. I believe in consensus politics and fair balance.

The Taoiseach

In case there be any misapprehension I should like to clarify the issue so that we may know exactly what is involved. In relation to this Dáil, when the question arose about the appointment of a Ceann Comhairle I spoke to the then Taoiseach. I gave him my personal view and what I thought would be the view of my party, though I did not have a chance to consult them, that the practice under which the outgoing Ceann Comhairle continued in office was a procedure which, although it had been breached on a number of ocasions, was the most appropriate one. I regretted that it had been departed from. We did not go into the question of who and when because that is history. However, I indicated to him that if the outgoing Ceann Comhairle was a candidate I would ask my Party to accord him support. Even if the position in the Dáil was not as delicately balanced as it was, my conviction that this was the correct procedure would remain the same. The decision was taken however for reasons which can be appreciated and it was perfectly within the entitlement of the Opposition to withdraw the name of Deputy Faulkner despite the fact that the then Taoiseach was aware that I was willing to vote support for him.

It was in those circumstances, Sir, that your name came forward for election. It is only fair, in view of what has been said, that it should be known that that is the position I held and expressed. That having happened and you, Sir, having been elected, and there being no proposition forthcoming in respect of a Member from the opposite side of the House, I put forward the name of Deputy Harte as someone well qualified to hold the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I do not think it is good that the post of Ceann Comhairle and that of Leas-Cheann Comhairle be dealt with in the way they have come to be dealt with. It lay outside my powers on this occasion and perhaps we can discuss in the future some convention which would apply which would get us back on course again. We have got off course. I have no desire to go into the question of who is responsible for that.

Independent Deputies should be aware of the position and know the manner in which I approached this matter and the spirit in which I approached it before passing their vote. If I understood Deputy Kemmy correctly, he felt that the issue at stake was one of confidence in the Government.

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

He was told.

The Taoiseach

I should like to tell him that this is not a vote of confidence in the Government in any sense, although naturally, in the circumstances that exist, the Government having put forward a candidate for the office of Leas-Cheann Comhairle, following the failure of the previous Government to maintain the nomination of Deputy Faulkner as Ceann Comhairle, we would seek support for our candidate and hope that he would be supported.

It is not a matter of confidence. I feel I must say that lest Deputy Kemmy's vote be cast under a misapprehension which would be unfair to him. I hope these explanations of mine will be taken into account by the House in deciding how to vote. This is a matter which each Member of the House must decide according to his own view or, in the case of people who are members of parties, in accordance with the view of their party. It would have been wrong for me to allow the debate to conclude without clarifying these two points, either of which could lead to people voting under a misapprehension as to the true position.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

I intend——

Mr. Haughey

On a point of order, I take it the Taoiseach was concluding.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy can only ask a question. The debate has concluded.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

I should like to address my question to the Leader of the Opposition. If Deputy Tunney has all the qualifications necessary for the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle — and I have no doubt that he has — why did Deputy Haughey not nominate him for the position of Ceann Comhairle last week when Deputy Faulkner declined that position? Can Deputy Haughey explain when the Ceannn Comhairle refused to seek reelection, was he invited to stand down, or did he stand down himself and, if he did, having regard to Deputy Tunney's qualifications for the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle, why was his nomination not put before the Dáil last week? That question is extremely worrying to me. I should like the Leader of the Opposition to enlighten me on this matter.

Mr. Haughey

Deputy Flanagan could indulge in this game of Tweedledum and Tweedledee all evening. Exactly the same arguments apply to Deputy Tunney not going for the position of Ceann Comhairle as apply to Deputy Harte not going for that position. It is important that the matter has now been cleared up of the prominent Member of Fine Gael who approached Deputy Kemmy and suggested to him that if he were to vote against Deputy Harte he would be voting no confidence in the Government. Now that that has been cleared up and Deputy Kemmy has been freed to vote in accordance with his independent and well informed conscience, I want to reiterate our position to him and to the House in case I did not make it clear at the earlier stage. We believe that, with the peculiar composition of this House, it is fair, reasonable, logical and sensible that, as the Coalition parties have installed their nominee in the Chair, to keep the balance in the administration of the House we should be entitled to hold the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I want to repeat to Deputy Kemmy that for a long time that was the tradition in this House. Unfortunately that tradition was broken. I agree with the Taoiseach that there is no point in either of us arguing specifically as to who broke it or why it was broken.

I suggest that, having regard to the particular composition of this new Dáil, the Independent Deputies should consider seriously re-instituting that tradition. To have a Ceann Comhairle who has the confidence and support of the Government side, and a Leas-Cheann Comhairle who has the confidence, understanding and support of the Opposition side, is a very reasonable approach to our affairs. I recommend it strongly to all the Independent Deputies.

The simple fact of the matter is that, if our nominee is not accepted, no matter what their protestations are and no matter what honest face they put on it, the Government will have all the Ministers, all the Ministers of State, the Ceann Comhairle and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I suggest that, in a very finely balanced Dáil such as we have, that does not reflect the wishes of the people and is not a fair, reasonable and balanced way for us to conduct our affairs in the weeks and months ahead.

The Taoiseach

A Cheann Comhairle, as you have allowed the Leader of the Opposition to speak——

Mr. Gene Fitzgerald

He made a proposal.

(Interruptions.)

The Taoiseach

——following the conclusion of the debate, and after he had pointed out that the debate was concluded and therefore Deputy Flanagan had no right to speak, I should like to point out that the Leader of the Opposition has failed to answer the question with regard to the withdrawal of Deputy Faulkner——

Mr. Colley

On a point of order——

The Taoiseach

——which is the action which prevented the party opposite from being represented in the Chair.

Mr. Colley

The Taoiseach is being disorderly. The Taoiseach knows well that when a point of order is put to the Chair he should cease speaking. He is being deliberately disorderly because he knows he was not entitled to speak twice in reply to the debate. He has spoken three times now and I suggest, Sir, that you know, as the Taoiseach does, that he was not entitled to do so. The Leader of the Opposition waited until the Taoiseach had replied on his motion. Then Deputy Flanagan asked a question and the Leader of the Opposition replied on his motion. At that point, Sir, I suggest the question should have been put and the Taoiseach should not have been allowed to proceed.

Mr. Flor Crowley

The former Deputy Leneghan aptly described the present Taoiseach.

Question put.

The Dáil divided: Tá, 80 80; Níl, 80.

Tá

• Allen, Bernard.
• Barrett, Seán.
• Barry, Myra.
• Barry, Peter.
• Begley, Michael.
• Bermingham, Joseph.
• Birmingham, George.
• Boland, John.
• Bruton, John.
• Burke, Dick.
• Burke, Liam.
• Byrne, Hugh.
• (Dublin North-West).
• Collins, Edward.
• Conlon, John F.
• Connaughton, Paul.
• Connor, John.
• Cooney, Patrick M.
• Corish, Brendan.
• Cosgrave, Liam T.
• Cosgrave, Michael J.
• Coveney, Hugh.
• Creed, Donal.
• Crotty, Keiran.
• Crowley, Frank.
• D'Arcy, Michael J.
• Deasy, Martin A.
• Desmond, Barry.
• Donnellan, John F.
• Dukes, Alan M.
• Durkan, Bernard J.
• Enright, Thomas W.
• Farrelly, John V.
• Fennell, Nuala.
• FitzGerald, Garret.
• Fitzpatrick, Tom.
• (Cavan-Monaghan).
• Flaherty, Mary.
• Flanagan, Oliver J.
• Fleming, Brian.
• Glenn, Alice.
• Governey, Desmond.
• Griffin, Brendan.
• Harte, Patrick D.
• Hegarty, Paddy.
• Higgins, Michael D.
• Kavanagh, Liam.
• Keating, Michael.
• Kelly, John.
• Kemmy, Jim.
• Kenny, Enda.
• L'Estrange, Gerry.
• McCartin, John J.
• McMahon, Larry.
• Markey, Bernard.
• Mitchell, Gay.
• Mitchell, Jim.
• Molony, David.
• Moynihan, Michael.
• Nealon, Ted.
• Noonan, Michael.
• (Limerick East).
• O'Brien, Fergus.
• O'Brien, William.
• O'Donnell, Tom.
• O'Keeffe, Jim.
• O'Leary, Michael.
• O'Sullivan, Toddy.
• O'Toole, Paddy.
• Owen, Nora.
• Pattison, Séamus.
• Ryan, John J.
• Ryan Richie.
• Shatter, Alan.
• Sheehan, Patrick J.
• Spring, Dick.
• Taylor, Madeleine.
• Taylor, Mervyn.
• Timmins, Godfrey.
• Treacy, Seán.
• Tully, James.
• White, James.
• Yates, Ivan.

Níl

• Acheson, Carrie.
• Ahern, Bertie.
• Alderman Dublin Bay-Rockall Loftus, Sean D.
• Allen, Lorcan.
• Andrews, David.
• Brennan, Paudge.
• Brennan, Seamus.
• Briscoe, Ben.
• Browne, Noel.
• Burke, Raphael P.
• Byrne, Hugh.
• (Wexford).
• Callanan, John.
• Calleary, Seán.
• Clohessy, Peadar.
• Colley, George.
• Collins, Gerard.
• Conaghan, Hugh.
• Connolly, Gerard.
• Coughlan, Clement.
• Cowen, Bernard.
• Crinion, Brendan.
• Crowley, Flor.
• Daly, Brendan.
• Doherty, Seán.
• Ellis, John.
• Fahey, Jackie.
• Faulkner, Pádraig.
• Filgate, Eddie.
• Fitzgerald, Gene.
• Fitzgerald, Liam.
• Fitzpatrick, Tom
• (Dublin South-Central).
• Fitzsimons, Jim.
• Flynn, Pádraig.
• Foley, Denis.
• French, Seán.
• Gallagher, Denis.
• Gallagher, Pat Cope.
• Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
• Harney, Mary.
• Andrews, Niall.
• Aylward, Liam.
• Barrett, Michael.
• Barrett, Sylvester.
• Brady, Gerard.
• Bradv, Vincent.
• Haughey, Charles J.
• Hyland, Liam.
• Joyce, Carey.
• Keegan, Seán.
• Kenneally, William.
• Killilea, Mark.
• Kitt, Michael P.
• Lemass, Eileen.
• Lenihan, Brian.
• Leyden, Terry.
• Loughnane, William.
• Lyons, Denis.
• McCarthy, Seán.
• McCreevy, Charlie.
• McEllistrim, Thomas.
• MacSharry, Ray.
• Meaney, Tom.
• Molloy, Robert.
• Moore, Seán.
• Morley, P.J.
• Murphy, Ciarán P.
• Noonan, Michael J.
• (Limerick West).
• O'Donoghue, Martin.
• O'Hanlon, Rory.
• O'Leary, John.
• O'Malley, Desmond.
• Power, Paddy.
• Reynolds, Albert.
• Smith, Michael.
• Tunney, Jim.
• Walsh, Seán.
• Wilson, John P.
• Woods, Michael J.
• Wyse, Pearse.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies L'Estrange and Mervyn Taylor; Níl, Deputies Briscoe and Moore.

Question declared lost.

Mr. Haughey

On a point of order, I suggest to you, Sir, before you give any decision that the same procedure outlined in Standing Orders as applicable to the election of Ceann Comhairle applies to the election of Leas-Cheann Comhairle, namely, that in the event of there being an equality of votes the question shall be decided in the negative.

An Ceann Comhairle

I thank Deputy Haughey, but I did not require that advice. I have decided in the interests of fair play in this House that I will cast my vote against.

Question put: "That Deputy Tunney be elected Leas-Cheann Comhairle."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 80; Níl, 79.

Tá

• Acheson, Carrie.
• Ahern, Bertie.
• Allen, Lorcan.
• Andrews, David.
• Andrews, Niall.
• Aylward, Liam.
• Barrett, Michael.
• Barrett, Sylvester.
• Brady, Gerard.
• Brady, Vincent.
• Brennan, Paudge.
• Brennan, Seamus.
• Conaghan, Hugh.
• Connolly, Gerard.
• Coughlan, Clement.
• Cowen, Bernard.
• Crinion, Brendan.
• Crowley, Flor.
• Daly, Brendan.
• Doherty, Seán.
• Ellis, John.
• Fahey, Jackie.
• Faulkner, Pádraig.
• Filgate, Eddie.
• Fitzgerald, Gene.
• Fitzgerald, Liam.
• Fitzpatrick, Tom
• (Dublin South-Central).
• Fitzsimons, Jim.
• Flynn, Pádraig.
• Foley, Denis.
• French, Seán.
• Gallagher, Denis.
• Gallagher, Pat Cope.
• Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
• Harney, Mary.
• Haughey, Charles J.
• Hyland, Liam.
• Joyce, Carey.
• Keegan, Seán.
• Kenneally, William.
• Killilea, Mark.
• Briscoe, Ben.
• Alderman Dublin Bay-Rockall Loftus, Seán D.
• Browne, Noel.
• Burke, Raphael P.
• Byrne, Hugh.
• (Wexford).
• Callanan, John.
• Calleary, Seán.
• Clohessy, Peadar.
• Colley, George.
• Collins, Gerard.
• Kitt, Michael P.
• Lemass, Eileen.
• Lenihan, Brian.
• Leyden, Terry.
• Loughnane, William.
• Lyons, Denis.
• McCarthy, Seán.
• McCreevy, Charlie.
• McEllistrim, Thomas.
• MacSharry, Ray.
• Meaney, Tom.
• Molloy, Robert.
• Moore, Seán.
• Morley, P.J.
• Murphy, Ciarán P.
• Nolan, Tom.
• Noonan, Michael J.
• (Limerick West).
• O'Donoghue, Martin.
• O'Hanlon, Rory.
• O'Leary, John.
• O'Malley, Desmond.
• Power, Paddy.
• Reynolds, Albert.
• Smith, Michael.
• Tunney, Jim.
• Walsh, Seán.
• Wilson, John P.
• Woods, Michael J.
• Wyse, Pearse.

Níl

• Allen, Bernard.
• Barrett, Seán.
• Barry, Myra.
• Barry, Peter.
• Begley, Michael.
• Bermingham, Joseph.
• Birmingham, George.
• Boland, John.
• Bruton, John.
• Burke, Dick.
• Burke, Liam.
• Byrne, Hugh.
• (Dublin North-West).
• Collins, Edward.
• Conlon, John F.
• Connaughton, Paul.
• Connor, John.
• Cooney, Patrick M.
• Corish, Brendan.
• Cosgrave, Liam T.
• Cosgrave, Michael J.
• Coveney, Hugh.
• Creed, Donal.
• Crotty, Keiran.
• Crowley, Frank.
• D'Arcy, Michael J.
• Deasy, Martin A.
• Desmond, Barry.
• Donnellan, John F.
• Dukes, Alan M.
• Durkan, Bernard J.
• Enright, Thomas W.
• Farrelly, John V.
• Fennell, Nuala.
• FitzGerald, Garret.
• Pattison, Séamus.
• Ryan, John J.
• Shatter, Alan.
• Sheehan, Patrick J.
• Spring, Dick.
• Taylor, Madeleine.
• Fitzpatrick, Tom.
• (Cavan-Monaghan).
• Flaherty, Mary.
• Flanagan, Oliver J.
• Fleming, Brian.
• Glenn, Alice.
• Governey, Desmond.
• Griffin, Brendan.
• Harte, Patrick D.
• Hegarty, Paddy.
• Higgins, Michael D.
• Kavanagh, Liam.
• Keating, Michael.
• Kelly, John.
• Kemmy, Jim.
• Kenny, Enda.
• L'Estrange, Gerry.
• McCartin, John J.
• McMahon, Larry.
• Markey, Bernard.
• Mitchell, Gay.
• Mitchell, Jim.
• Molony, David.
• Moynihan, Michael.
• Nealon, Ted.
• Noonan, Michael.
• (Limerick East).
• O'Brien, Fergus.
• O'Brien, William.
• O'Donnell, Tom.
• O'Keeffe, Jim.
• O'Leary, Michael.
• O'Sullivan, Toddy.
• O'Toole, Paddy.
• Owen, Nora.
• Taylor, Mervyn.
• Timmins, Godfrey.
• Treacy, Seán.
• Tully, James.
• White, James.
• Yates, Ivan.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Moore and Briscoe; Níl, Deputies L'Estrange and Mervyn Taylor.

Question declared carried.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Ní raibh mé ag súil go mbeadh orm oráid a dhé-anamh ag tabhairt mo bhuíochais don Teach. Níl mé chun oráid a thabhairt ach ba mhaith liom, le do chead, mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teach ar son na honóra agus na pribhléide atá tugtha acu domsa. Déanfaidh mé mo dhicheall gach ceann de na dualgaisí atá san mbuan-ordú a chomhlíonadh chomh fada in Eirinn agus is féidir liom é. Tá díomá orm gur mo chara an Teachta Paddy Harte agus mé fhéin a bhí ainmnithe anseo. Tá súil agam go mbeidh onóir eile ag teacht chuige amach anseo agus tá mé ag súil, muna bhfaighidh sé é sin ach oiread, go mbeidh sé chomh dea-bhéa-sach liomsa agus mé i mo shuí ansin agus a bheinnse leis dá mbeadh a mhalairt de scéal ann.

Gabhann mé mo bhuíochas leis an Teach arís. Is mór an onóir dom é, agus arís mo comh-bhrón, más é sin an focal ceart, le mo chara, An Teachta Paddy Harte.

Mr. Harte

I would like to be the first to congratulate Deputy Tunney. I assure the House that it has not been very pleasant to be the centre of controversy. However, from the bottom of my heart I congratulate Deputy Tunney and wish him well in the task which lies ahead. I was looking forward to the challenge of the position and naturally, am disappointed that it did not come my way. I offer my very sincere congratulations to Deputy Tunney and will co-operate with him as a Member of the House in the duties which he will perform.

I thank the Taoiseach and the Leader of the Opposition for their kind remarks. I wondered whether, in fact, they were talking about me, or not. The only remark I take offence at—and I know it was off the cuff—was the remark of the Ceann Comhairle when he said that he was casting his vote in order to ensure fair play in the House. I know the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on a personal level possibly better than any Member of the House. I wish to put it on record that, had I been successful, there would have been no unfair play on my part.

With Deputy Noel Browne I have had one of the closest relationships—a peculiar relationship which perhaps many people did not understand. We have a close bond of friendship and he had a difficult task to perform. The same applies to Deputy Kemmy. I thank Deputy Kemmy for voting for me and understand why Deputy Browne, and indeed Deputy Loftus, voted against me.

On the general position, I believe that the House should recognise that the office of Ceann Comhairle should be above politics. It has not been above politics, let us be honest about it. Indeed, the party most responsible for bringing it into the political arena is the present Opposition.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Harte

May I be allowed to make my point? The present Opposition party have used the office of Ceann Comhairle in the political arena. I hope that this cliffhanger will make us realise our obligations and that we will fulfil them in a fair way. The decision of the Ceann Comhairle to cast his vote against me was very courageous, but in the long term possibly it was the right one. While it is not very pleasant to thank the Ceann Comhairle for voting against me, I recognise the decision he had to make and know that it was made in the best interests of the House. I accept it as such. I wish Deputy Tunney every success in the job which he has been selected to do.