Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 1

Election of Ceann Comhairle.

The Taoiseach:

Ba mhaith liom an Teachta Ruairí Ó hAnnluain a ainmniú mar Cheann Comhairle. I wish to nominate Deputy Rory O'Hanlon to the position of Ceann Comhairle. Deputy O'Hanlon brings a vast range of experience to the position of Ceann Comhairle, having been Leas-Cheann Comhairle in the previous Dáil and having served as a Minister and a Member of this House for many years.

In making this nomination I pay tribute to the outgoing Ceann Comhairle. Chairing the Dáil is a demanding task and often poses considerable difficulties in maintaining order amid the cut and thrust of daily business. Deputy Pattison has always responded with unfailing courtesy and impartiality and I express my appreciation on behalf of all the Members of the previous Dáil.

I take the opportunity to inform the House of my intention to nominate Deputy Pattison for election in due course under Standing Order 9 to become Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Mr. Quinn:

On behalf of the Labour Party, and that of the House, I pay tribute to the outgoing Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Séamus Pattison, who is father of the House where he has given more than 40 years of service. Naturally, on this side of the House, we would have liked him to be re-elected to the post of Ceann Comhairle, but we recognise that the numbers have changed following the general election. Accordingly, we will not be opposing the nomination of Deputy Rory O'Hanlon to the post of Ceann Comhairle. I acknowledge the generosity of the Taoiseach, notwithstanding the numbers on this side of the House, in signalling that he intends to nominate Deputy Séamus Pattison to the post of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. In the circumstances, we will not be opposing the nomination of Deputy Rory O'Hanlon to the post of Ceann Comhairle.

Mr. Kenny:

Glacaim comhgairdeas le gach uile Theachta atá anseo inniu tar éis an toghcháin. Gabhaim buíochas freisin le Séamas Pattison, iar-Cheann Comhairle na Dála. Ainmním Pádraig Mac Cormaic mar Cheann Comhairle. I do so in the spirit of the reforms of the House that have been ongoing for some years. The Government published the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill, 2002, part of which is to ensure the independence of the Chair of this House from the Government. In respect of the appointment of Ceann Comhairle, as the Government will expect the smooth running of Government to be complemented by the granting of pairs from the Fine Gael Party, as the major opposition party, it should have shown a gesture of independence from Government. I, therefore, propose Deputy McCormack as Ceann Comhairle. He is chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, has represented his constituency for many years and shown quite a degree of competence in dealing with many complex matters.

Mr. Sargent:

Gabhaim buíochas le gach duine a chaith vóta san oll-toghchán agus guím beannacht Dé ar gach duine atá anseo inniu. Beidh an Comhaontas Glas ag tacú le moladh an Taoisigh, moladh atá tacaithe ag Pairtí an Lucht Oibre chomh maith. Aithnímid an méid oibre atá déanta at an Teachta Pattison thar na blianta. Aithnímid gur duine macánta, cairdiúil, cineálta, cothrom é agus gabhaimíd buíochas leis as an méid oibre atá déanta aige.

Aithnímid gur duine cumasach an Teachta Ruairí Ó hAnnluain freisin. Ghlac sé an cathaoir go minic mar Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Ní ceist pairtí í, oifig an Cheann Comhairle ach ceist chothrom na Féinne agus ceist obair an Tí. Dá bharr sin táimid ag tacú le moladh an Rialtais.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:

Ar son Phairtí Sinn Féin, gabhaim comhgairdeas leis an Teachta Ó hAnnluain as ucht a bheith ainmnithe mar Cheann Comhairle ag an Taoiseach. I congratulate my constituency colleague and outgoing Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his nomination for the position of Ceann Comhairle this morning. I also pay tribute to the outgoing Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Séamus Pattison, who has always conducted the affairs and business of the House with fairness and equity. I sincerely thank him for the courtesy he has always shown to the smaller parties and Independent Deputies in the past five years. I welcome the proposal that Deputy Pattison would be honoured with the role of Leas-Cheann Comhairle in the new Dáil. I will not be opposing Deputy O'Hanlon's nomination as Ceann Comhairle and I wish him success.

Cléireach na Dála:

Tá dhá thairiscint faoi bhráid an Tí. De réir na mBuan Orduithe, tógfar iad ins an ord a tairgeadh iad. There are two motions before the House and, in accordance with Standing Orders, they will be taken in the order in which they were proposed. Tá mé ag cur na ceiste: "Go dtoghfar an Teachta Ruairí Ó hAnnluain agus go rachaidh sé i gceannas na Dála anois mar Cheann Comhairle."

I am putting the question: "That Deputy Rory O'Hanlon be elected and do now take the Chair of the Dáil as Ceann Comhairle."

An bhfuil an tairiscint aontaithe? Is that motion agreed?

Question put and agreed to.

Cléireach na Dála:

Iarraim anois ar an Teachta Ruairí Ó hAnnluain, Comhalta do Dháilcheantar An Cabhán-Muineachán, dul i gceannas an 29ú Dáil Éireann.

I now call on Deputy Rory O'Hanlon, Member for the Constituency of Cavan-Monaghan, to take the Chair of this 29th Dáil.

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:

An Ceann Comhairle:

A Theachtaí, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a gabháil libh as mé a thoghadh mar Cheann Comhairle Dháil Éireann. Is mór an onóir domsa é. Fellow Members, it is a very great honour indeed that you have bestowed upon me. I wish to thank you all for the confidence you have demonstrated by electing me as Ceann Comhairle of the 29th Dáil. I am privileged to have been given the opportunity of serving the Members of the Dáil. Having served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the last Dáil, I have a good feel for the rules and traditions of this noble House. All Members can be assured of my full support to enable them to fulfil their duties as Deputies in accordance with Standing Orders as laid down by the House. Members can rest assured that their rights in this House will be safeguarded by me. However, I cannot fulfil my obligations as Ceann Comhairle without your support and co-operation. As Leas-Cheann Comhairle I had that support which I am sure will be forthcoming in this Dáil as well.

By its long-standing tradition, this House has achieved its place as the cornerstone of our parliamentary democracy which is ever changing and presenting new challenges, not alone to each of us as Members but also collectively to the Dáil as an institution. In order for the Dáil to be as effective as possible in serving the people, the House and its administration must be efficient and must be modernised. I look forward to playing my part in meeting that challenge.

In seeking to uphold the best traditions of the House, it is important to remember my many illustrious predecessors. It would be remiss of me if I did not refer in particular to my immediate predecessor, Deputy Pattison. The outgoing Ceann Comhairle made an invaluable contribution in upholding the dignity and decorum of this House. He performed his duties as Ceann Comhairle in exemplary fashion and is worthy of the support of all of us in the House.

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 manner, maintain order and uphold the rights and privileges of Members in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of this House.

I wish to reiterate my gratitude to fellow Deputies. I shall strive earnestly to prove worthy of the honour, confidence and trust you have placed in me.

The Ceann Comhairle took the Chair.

Mr. Kenny:

I congratulate you, Sir, on your appointment as Ceann Comhairle of this House. You have long served the people of Cavan-Monaghan as a Member of the House. As Leas-Cheann Comhairle, you have shown exemplary direction in your dealings with Members of the House. I wish you good fortune as Ceann Comhairle and I hope you will uphold the traditions, as you have said you will, with fairness and equality for all Members and defend their rights as we proceed with Oireachtas reform. I compliment your predecessor in the Chair, Deputy Pattison, for his work in the last Dáil. With the reversal of roles in the new Dáil, I am sure you will both conduct the affairs of the House in an exemplary fashion.

Mr. Pattison:

I warmly congratulate you, a Cheann Comhairle, and wish you well in your new appointment. Having worked very closely with you over the past five years, I know you have acted in a fair, just and impartial manner on every occasion and I assure you of my co-operation in this Dáil. I thank Members for their kind remarks on my stewardship and I very much appreciate their comments.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney):

On behalf of the Progressive Democrats, I congratulate you, a Cheann Comhairle, on your election. Given the outcome of the recent general election, you are the only Member who can be certain of returning to the next Dáil. That is something which many may envy. I know you will be a fair but firm Ceann Comhairle. You have enormous parliamentary experience and you have always treated the Members of this House, on all sides, with great respect.

I pay tribute to Deputy Pattison for his sterling work and for the respect, consideration and patience which he has always shown to Members of the House. He has been most courteous and fair at all times and has served as a Member of the House for a considerable number of years. I am delighted he is to be Leas-Cheann Comhairle when the Dáil next meets.

Mr. Sargent:

Ba mhaith liomsa, chomh maith, comgháirdeas a ghabáil leat, a Cheann Comhairle. I appreciate the work you have done. I know that, in succeeding Deputy Pattison, you have gained considerable experience as Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I also pay tribute to Deputy Pattison for his sterling work, sometimes in difficult circumstances, over the course of the last Dáil. I ask the Ceann Comhairle to take into account the possibly greater burden of responsibility which arises from the new diversity of party representation in this Dáil. The difficulty of being fair and proportionate to all parties is a task which none of us would envy but I am aware of your abilities and fair-mindedness, a Cheann Comhairle, and I am sure you will carry out your functions in an exemplary fashion.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:

Ba mhaith liom comhgáirdeachas a ghabháil duit freisin, a Cheann Comhairle. I offer you my congratulations on your election as Ceann Comhairle of the new Dáil. It is, undoubtedly, a distinguished honour for you personally and for the constituency which we both represent. As Deputy Harney said, you have the enviable position of being certain of returning to the House after the next general election. For those of us who represent Cavan-Monaghan, your elevation has created a new vista which we will have to address over the period prior to the next electoral contest. I commend your role as Leas-Cheann Comhairle in the last Dáil. The tributes paid to Deputy Pattison in his role as Ceann Comhairle are equally applicable to you, in terms of fairness and equity. I assure you of my co-operation and that of my colleagues in the Sinn Féin Party over the course of the 29th Dáil.

Mr. McCormack:

I also compliment you, a Cheann Comhairle, and assure you of my full support. I thank my party leader for proposing me for the post and the confidence he showed in me to undertake it.

Mr. Crawford:

A Cheann Comhairle, as your constituency colleague for the past nine and a half years, I congratulate you and wish you well in your new post. I know you will do a good job and will be impartial. Your election will create a new situation in the Cavan-Monaghan constituency, one we will do our best to make use of.

Mr. B. Smith:

A Cheann Comhairle, I am delighted that with the unanimous support of the House you have been honoured with this position. You have been a good constituency colleague and friend of mine over many years. I look forward to getting favourable treatment in the House.

Mr. Connolly:

As a fellow Monaghan man and colleague in the Cavan-Monaghan constituency, I also congratulate you, a Cheann Comhairle, on your election. I wish you well and assure you of my co-operation.