Dé réir na mBuan Ordui-the, is é an chéad ghnó eile ná Ceann Comhairle a thoghadh. Glacfaidh mé anois le tairiscintí. In accordance with Standing Orders, the next business is the election of a Ceann Comhairle and I shall now receive motions.
Election of Ceann Comhairle.
Cléireach na Dála
It gives me great pleasure to propose the name of Deputy Séamus Pattison as candidate for the office of Ceann Comhairle. Although he is only 61 years of age, Séamus is the longest serving Member of this House and one of its most distinguished. He was first nominated to contest a Dáil election at the age of 23 and fought that contest, a by-election, in 1960. His father, James, had been a long serving member of the Dáil, representing the people of his constituency for a total of 21 years.
From the moment of his own election in 1961 until today, Deputy Séamus Pattison has had an unbroken and unrivalled career of public service. He is respected and admired on all sides of the House, and especially so by the people of Carlow-Kilkenny whom he has served faithfully and diligently for the past 36 years. He has served them as a Member of the Dáil, for three terms as mayor of Kilkenny city and two as chairman of Kilkenny County Council.
When Deputy Séamus Pattison first walked into this Chamber Seán Lemass was Taoiseach. Many of the founding fathers of this State, men like Dan Breen, Seán McEntee, Seán Mac Eoin, James Dillon and Frank Aiken, were here at that time. The leader of his own party was Brendan Corish who the previous year had taken over from Bill Norton. In the intervening years a great deal has changed. Personalities have come and gone and history has been made many times over. Through it all Deputy Séamus Pattison has been a loyal servant of the people and a proud Member of this democratic assembly. He has also served in Government as Minister of State in the Department of Social Welfare from 1983-7 and in the European Parliament where he was vicechairman of the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment. In the last Dáil he was a particularly effective chair of the Select Committee on Social Affairs.
In short, Deputy Séamus Pattison has served an illustrious apprenticeship for the position of Ceann Comhairle. I have no doubt whatsoever that he will grace that office, if selected by the House today. Those of us who know him and have worked with him can tell the House that he is one of its most fair-minded Members, a person who will see his first and last duty as being to advance the interests of Members and to protect their rights. We also know — I suppose I offer this as a warning to the House — that beneath Séamus's mild exterior there is a strong and resilient character, a person of absolute integrity and determination. People have underestimated him before and have done so at their peril.
Séamus Pattison will add lustre to the list of people who have held the important and prestigious office of Ceann Comhairle and I have no hesitation in commending his appointment to the House.
I am very pleased to second the proposal that Séamus Pattison be nominated as Ceann Comhairle. I do so in the full knowledge of the long record of service which he and his family have given to the country, their constituency and Dáil Éireann. To have survived 12 general elections and 36 years in Dáil Éireann is a record in itself. The common-sense he has garnered over those years and the faith and trust shown by the electorate in him and he in them will stand the Dáil in good stead. I am pleased to second the proposal that Séamus Pattison be nominated as Ceann Comhairle.
Cléireach na Dála
Os rud é nach bhfuil ach ainmniúchán amhain, cuirfidh me an ceist anois. As there is only one nomination I shall now put the question. Tá mé ag cur na ceiste: "Go dtogh-far an Teachta Séamus Pattison agus go rachaidh sé i gceannas na Dála anois mar Cheann Comhairle." I am putting the question: "That Deputy Séamus Pattison be elected and do now take the Chair of the Dáil as Ceann Comhairle."
Question put and agreed to.
Cléireach na Dála
Iarraim anois ar an Teachta Séamus Pattison, Comhalta do Dháilcheantar Ceatharlach-Cill Chainnigh, dul i gceannas an 28ú Dáil Éireann. I now call on Deputy Séamus Pattison, Member for the Constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, to take the Chair of this 28th Dáil Éireann.
Whereupon Members rose in their places and remained standing while the Ceann Comhairle proceeded to the Dais.
Standing beside the Chair, the Ceann Comhairle, addressing the Dáil said:
A Theachtaí, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil libh as mé a thoghadh mar Ceann Comhairle Dáil Éireann inniu. Is mór an onóir domsa é agus geallaim libh go leir go ndéanfaidh mé mo dhícheall chun cothrom na Féinne a thabhairt do gach uile Theachta anseo agus iarraim oraibh cabharú liomsa chun dualgas na hoifige seo a chomhlíonadh mar is cóir.
Fellow Deputies, Members of the House, I thank you for the great honour you have conferred upon me in electing me Ceann Comhairle today. I wish most sincerely to convey to all Deputies in the various parties which comprise this great democratic Assembly my profound gratitude for the confidence you have reposed in me. I assure you all that I will strive earnestly to prove worthy of this great honour now conferred upon me.
As my proposer said, I have been a Member of the House since 1961 and have long since valued highly the history and traditions of the House. In keeping with the traditions of my illustrious predecessors I will endeavour to preserve and uphold the dignity and decorum of the House at all times. As Ceann Comhairle, I see it as my task and duty to administer and apply the rules of this House as laid down by this House with utter impartiality, fairness and equality between parties and Deputies.
My aim will be to carry out the work of the Chair in such a manner as to give full expression to all Members consistent with our Standing Orders and the due business of the House before us. I realise it is impossible to carry out the work of the House without the full co-operation of all Members and, because of this, I humbly seek that co-operation. I trust and feel sure this co-operation will be readily forthcoming at all times from all sides of the House.
In seeking to uphold the best traditions of this House I am mindful of my many illustrious predecessors. It would be remiss of me if I did not mention, in particular, my immediate predecessor, former Deputy Seán Treacy. As outgoing Ceann Comhairle he will be remembered by all for the invaluable contribution he made in upholding the dignity and the decorum of this House.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
We are all glad to see him present in the distinguished visitors gallery.
I must now perform my first official duty as Ceann Comhairle. In accordance with Standing Order No. 8 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, I wish to make the following declaration:
I do solemnly declare that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my knowledge and ability, execute the office of Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann without fear or favour, apply the rules as laid down by this House in an impartial and fair manner, maintain order and uphold the rights and privileges of members in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann.
Mar fhocal scóir, tá mé fíor-bhuíoch díoch agus guím rath Dé oraibh go léir san Dáil nua seo.
The Ceann Comhairle took the Chair.
As a fellow Kilkenny man I am very pleased to congratulate you, a Cheann Comhairle, on your election today. As a fellow Kilkenny Member of this House and someone who has served with you at local and national level for the past number of years, you were and remain a good friend of mine and we worked very well together at local and national level in the interest of the constituents of Carlow-Kilkenny. As the Tánaiste in proposing you stated, the Pattison name has been synonymous with the Labour Party and politics in Kilkenny since l932. There is no more fitting tribute I can pay to you than to say that since l932 the people of Carlow-Kilkenny have expressed the wish that the Pattison name be in this Parliament, except for a brief interlude from l957 to l961. I wish you well, Sir, and you can be assured that I and fellow Deputies from Carlow-Kilkenny send you sincere congratulations on your elevation to this important constitutional office. I have no doubt you will do an excellent job.