Nomination of Taoiseach.

Mr. MacSharry

Molaim Cathal Ó hEochaidh mar Thaoiseach.

It gives me great pleasure to propose Deputy Garret FitzGerald as Taoiseach. I believe he is the man most suitable to lead our country in these difficult times. He has projected the qualities of leadership, integrity and the inspiration necessary to unite all our people in the difficult task facing us. I look forward to five successful years for this country under his leadership.

Mrs. Owen

I second the proposal of Deputy Garret FitzGerald as Taoiseach.

Question put: "That Charles J. Haughey be nominated as Taoiseach."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 77; Níl, 88.

Tá

Ahern, Bertie.
Ahern, Michael.
Andrews, David.
Andrews, Niall.
Aylward, Liam.
Barrett, Michael.
Barrett, Sylvester.
Blaney, Neil Terence.
Brady, Gerard.
Brady, Vincent.
Brennan, Mattie.
Brennan, Paudge.
Brennan, Séamus.
Briscoe, Ben.
Browne, John.
Burke, Raphael P.
Byrne, Hugh.
Byrne, Seán.
Calleary, Seán.
Colley, George.
Collins, Gerard.
Conaghan, Hugh.
Connolly, Ger.
Coughlan, Clement.
Cowen, Bernard.
Daly, Brendan.
Doherty, Seán.
Fahey, Francis.
Fahey, Jackie.
Faulkner, Pádraig.
Fitzgerald, Gene.
Fitzgerald, Liam Joseph.
Fitzsimons, Jim.
Flynn, Pádraig.
Foley, Denis.
Gallagher, Denis.
Gallagher, Pat Cope.
Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
Harney, Mary.
Haughey, Charles J.
Hilliard, Colm.
Hyland, Liam.
Kirk, Séamus.
Kitt, Michael P.
Lemass, Eileen.
Lenihan, Brian.
Leonard, Jimmy.
Leyden, Terry.
Lyons, Denis.
McCarthy, Seán.
McCreevy, Charlie.
McEllistrim, Tom.
MacSharry, Ray.
Molloy, Robert.
Morley, P.J.
Moynihan, Donal.
Nolan, M.J.
Noonan, Michael J. (Limerick West)
O'Connell, John.
O'Dea, William.
O'Hanlon, Rory.
O'Keeffe, Edmond.
O'Kennedy, Michael.
O'Leary, John.
O'Malley, Desmond J.
Ormonde, Donal.
O'Rourke, Mary.
Power, Paddy.
Reynolds, Albert.
Treacy, Noel.
Tunney, Jim.
Wallace, Dan.
Walsh, Joe.
Walsh, Seán.
Wilson, John P.
Woods, Michael.
Wyse, Pearse.

Níl

Allen, Bernard.
Barnes, Monica.
Barrett, Seán.
Barry, Myra.
Barry, Peter.
Begley, Michael.
Bell, Michael.
Bermingham, Joe.
Birmingham, George Martin.
Boland, John.
Bruton, John.
Bruton, Richard.
Burke, Liam.
Carey, Donal.
Cluskey, Frank.
Collins, Edward.
Conlon, John F.
Connaughton, Paul.
Coogan, Fintan.
Cooney, Patrick Mark.
Cosgrave, Liam T.
Cosgrave, Michael Joe.
Coveney, Hugh.
Creed, Donal.
Crotty, Kieran.
Crowley, Frank.
D'Arcy, Michael.
Deasy, Martin Austin.
De Rossa, Proinsias.
Desmond, Barry.
Desmond, Eileen.
Donnellan, John.
Dowling, Dick.
Doyle, Avril.
Doyle, Joe.
Dukes, Alan.
Durkan, Bernard J.
Enright, Thomas W.
Farrelly, John V.
Fennell, Nuala.
FitzGerald, Garret.
Flaherty, Mary.
Flanagan, Oliver J.
Glenn, Alice.
Gregory-Independent, Tony.
Griffin, Brendan.
Harte, Patrick D.
Hegarty, Paddy.
Hussey, Gemma.
Kavanagh, Liam.
Keating, Michael.
Kelly, John.
Kenny, Enda.
L'Estrange, Gerry.
McCartin, Joe.
McGahon, Brendan.
McGinley, Dinny.
Mac Giolla, Tomás.
McLoughlin, Frank.
Manning, Maurice.
Mitchell, Gay.
Mitchell, Jim.
Molony, David.
Moynihan, Michael.
Naughten, Liam.
Nealon, Ted.
Noonan, Michael. Limerick East).
O'Brien, Fergus.
O'Brien, Willie.
O'Donnell, Tom.
O'Keeffe, Jim.
O'Leary, Michael.
O'Sullivan, Toddy.
O'Toole, Paddy.
Owen, Nora.
Pattison, Séamus.
Prendergast, Frank.
Quinn, Ruairí.
Ryan, John.
Shatter, Alan.
Sheehan, Patrick Joseph.
Skelly, Liam.
Spring, Dick.
Taylor, Mervyn.
Taylor-Quinn, Madeline.
Timmins, Godfrey.
Treacy, Seán.
Yates, Ivan.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies B. Ahern and Briscoe; Níl, Deputies Barrett (Dún Laoghaire) and Taylor.

Question declared lost.

Question put: "That Deputy Garret FitzGerald be nominated as Taoiseach"

The Dáil divided: Tá, 85; Níl, 79.

Tá

Allen, Bernard.
Barnes, Monica.
Barrett, Seán.
Barry, Myra.
Barry, Peter.
Begley, Michael.
Bell, Michael.
Bermingham, Joe.
Conlon, John F.
Connaughton, Paul.
Coogan, Fintan.
Cooney, Patrick Mark.
Cosgrave, Liam T.
Cosgrave, Michael Joe.
Coveney, Hugh.
Creed, Donal.
Crotty, Kieran.
Crowley, Frank.
D'Arcy, Michael.
Deasy, Martin Austin.
Desmond, Barry.
Desmond, Eileen.
Donnellan, John.
Dowling, Dick.
Doyle, Avril.
Doyle, Joe.
Dukes, Alan.
Durkan, Bernard J.
Enright, Thomas W.
Farrelly, John V.
Fennell, Nuala.
FitzGerald, Garret.
Flaherty, Mary.
Flanagan, Oliver J.
Glenn, Alice.
Griffin, Brendan.
Harte, Patrick D.
Hegarty, Paddy.
Hussey, Gemma.
Kavanagh, Liam.
Keating, Michael.
Kelly, John.
Kenny, Enda.
Birmingham, George Martin.
Boland, John.
Bruton, John.
Bruton, Richard.
Burke, Liam.
Carey, Donal.
Cluskey, Frank.
Collins, Edward.
L'Estrange, Gerry.
McCartin, Joe.
McGahon, Brendan.
McGinley, Dinny.
McLoughlin, Frank.
Manning, Maurice.
Mitchell, Gay.
Mitchell, Jim.
Molony, David.
Moynihan, Michael.
Naughten, Liam.
Nealon, Ted.
Noonan, Michael. (Limerick East).
O'Brien, Fergus.
O'Brien, Willie.
O'Donnell, Tom.
O'Keeffe, Jim.
O'Leary, Michael.
O'Sullivan, Toddy.
O'Toole, Paddy.
Owen, Nora.
Pattison, Séamus.
Prendergast, Frank.
Quinn, Ruairí.
Ryan, John.
Shatter, Alan.
Sheehan, Patrick Joseph.
Skelly, Liam.
Spring, Dick.
Taylor, Mervyn.
Taylor-Quinn, Madeline.
Timmins, Godfrey.
Treacy, Seán.
Yates, Ivan.

Níl

Ahern, Bertie.
Ahern, Michael.
Andrews, David.
Andrews, Niall.
Aylward, Liam.
Barrett, Michael.
Barrett, Sylvester.
Blaney, Neil Terence.
Brady, Gerard.
Brady, Vincent.
Brennan, Mattie.
Brennan, Paudge.
Brennan, Séamus.
Briscoe, Ben.
Browne, John.
Burke, Raphael P.
Byrne, Hugh.
Byrne, Seán.
Calleary, Seán.
Colley, George.
Collins, Gerard.
Conaghan, Hugh.
Connolly, Ger.
Coughlan, Clement.
Cowen, Bernard.
Daly, Brendan.
De Rossa, Prionsias.
Doherty, Seán.
Fahey, Francis.
Moynihan, Donal.
Nolan, M. J.
Noonan, Michael J. (Limerick West)
O'Dea, William.
O'Hanlon, Rory.
O'Keeffe, Edmond.
O'Kennedy, Michael.
O'Leary, John.
O'Malley, Desmond J.
Ormonde, Donal.
Fahey, Jackie.
Faulkner, Pádraig.
Fitzgerald, Gene.
Fitzgerald, Liam Joseph.
Fitzsimons, Jim.
Flynn, Pádraig.
Foley, Denis.
Gallagher, Denis.
Gallagher, Pat Cope.
Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
Gregory-Independent, Tony.
Harney, Mary.
Haughey, Charles J.
Hilliard, Colm.
Hyland, Liam.
Kirk, Séamus.
Kitt, Michael P.
Lemass, Eileen.
Lenihan, Brian.
Leonard, Jimmy.
Leyden, Terry.
Lyons, Denis.
McCarthy, Seán.
McCreevy, Charlie.
McEllistrim, Tom.
Mac Giolla, Tomás.
MacSharry, Ray.
Molloy, Robert.
Morley, P.J.
O'Rourke, Mary.
Power, Paddy.
Reynolds, Albert.
Treacy, Noel.
Tunney, Jim.
Wallace, Dan.
Walsh, Joe.
Walsh, Seán.
Wilson, John P.
Woods, Michael.
Wyse, Pearse.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Barrett (Dún Laoghaire) and Taylor; Níl, Deputies B. Ahern and Briscoe.

Question declared carried.

Deputy FitzGerald

A Cheann Comhairle, and Members of the House, I should like to thank the House for the honour it has done me in electing me to this office. Having had the experience of being Taoiseach for eight months I am aware what the burdens of office are and I am aware also, as all Members are, of the gravity of the problems facing the country. No one can take on this task with a light heart, but no one can fail to be conscious of the honour that it is because there is no greater honour for an Irishman than to be elected Taoiseach of this country. The only other thing I should like to say at this point is that I would hope that in this Dáil we can mobilise to a greater extent than perhaps we have been able to do in the past the efforts of all of the Dáil in the interests of the nation and that by opening up procedures of the Dáil in new ways the Opposition can be given the fullest opportunity to contribute and to participate in the whole work of formulating policy and of working, where possible, towards a consensus while being — and properly so — stringently critical of any failures on the part of the Government and keeping a close eye on everything we do. I should like to thank those who voted for me. I propose that the House adjourn until 6.15 p.m. so that I may go to Aras an Uachtaráin to receive my appointment.

The Taoiseach

May I first of all personally, and on behalf of my party, offer our congratulations to Deputy FitzGerald on his election for nomination as Taoiseach? Like him I am fully aware of the problems facing the incoming Government and the onerous and difficult responsibilities which the Taoiseach will undertake. We wish him well in this difficult assignment. We also congratulate him on the honour that has been bestowed on him by the House. For our part we will go into Opposition with, I hope, dignity and honour. We will endeavour in Opposition to discharge our responsibilities as constructively as we can and with as great a sense of responsibility as we can, conscious of the fact that it will require not only the arduous efforts of the Government but the full, constructive co-operation of the Opposition in the Dáil to help the country meet the serious difficulties which confront us. I congratulate Deputy FitzGerald on the honour the Dáil has just conveyed upon him and I wish him well in the high office to which he will now be shortly appointed by Uachtarán na hÉireann.

Mr. Spring

On behalf of the Labour Party I should like to congratulate Deputy FitzGerald on the high office that has been bestowed upon him. I know that Deputy FitzGerald is well aware of the economic difficulties facing this country at the time he is taking up this office. I am also confident that he has the ability and integrity to face up to that challenge and to give the direction to this country which the people are looking for.

Like the previous speakers, we in the Labour Party are anxious and concerned that this House is seen to lead the country. Perhaps we have been failing in that in recent times but every co-operation will be forthcoming from the Labour Party to give an example to the country and every support will be forthcoming for Deputy FitzGerald. We wish him well.

An Ceann Comhairle

In accordance with precedent, when the Dáil resumes Members on my left shall take their seats on my right and Members on my right shall take their seats on my left.

Sitting suspended at 4.40 p.m. and resumed at 6.15 p.m.

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Dec 1982