Election of Cathaoirleach.
Tairgim:—
Go dtoghtar an Seanadóir Liam Ó Buachalla mar Chathaoirleach.
Is cúis mhór áthais dom an Seanadóir Liam Ó Buachalla do thairiscint le na thoghadh mar Chathaoirleach don tSeanad seo. Óna thaithi ar obair an Ti seo, a chleachtadh ar ghnothaí éagsúla poiblí agus, go mór-mhór, toisc a sháreolas ar an nGaeilge agus a dhuthracht ar a son, ní dóigh liom go bhfuil duine eile orainn is mó atá cáilithe chuige ná is fearr a oireann don phost.
I move:—
That Seanadóir Liam Ó Buachalla be elected Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.
It is with very great pleasure, indeed, that I make that proposition. Seanadóir Ó Buachalla is well known to all the members of the House, and is well known outside the House. His work for the Irish language has been very valuable to the language cause in this country. I do not need, I think, to say anything more about him. He is too well known to spend very much time in eulogies.
Is mian liom cabhrú leis an Rún atá molta ag Seán Ua Guilidhe. Tá áthas orm é sin a dhéanamh.
I have great pleasure in seconding the motion proposed by Senator Seán Goulding that Senator Ó Buachalla be our Cathaoirleach. He is admirably suited for the position and will fill with honour, I think, a position which has been so admirably filled by his several predecessors. He has great innate courtesy, an urbane disposition, great appreciation of procedure and, last but not least, an intimate knowledge of the language of our country. I think it is a happy choice we are making and I sincerely hope that we shall have him long with us as our Cathaoirleach.
Nílimíd ar an dtaobh seo den Tigh chun cur i gcoinne na tairiscinte seo. Mar a dúirt an Seanadóir Maighréad Nic Phiarais, tá nós déanta ó thosach ins an Seanad go dtugann an Cathaoirleach comhtrom agus ar ndóigh cneastacht chomh maith do gach Seanadóir. Táimíd deimhin de má déantear an Seanadóir Ó Buachalla do thoghadh mar Chathaoirleach go ndéanfaidh sé a dhicheall chun leanúint den nós san.
Gheobhaidh sé uainne gach cúnamh chun gnóthaí na Cathaoirleach a choimhlíonadh agus chun dualgaisí na Cathaoirleach do thabhairt chun críche. Tá suil agam go bhfuighidh sé an cabhair céanna ó gach aoinne sa tSeanad.
Question:—"That an Seanadóir Ó Buachalla be elected and do now take the Chair of the Seanad as Cathaoirleach"—put by the Clerk and agreed to unanimously.
Whereupon Senators rose in their places and remained standing while the Cathaoirleach proceeded to the Dais.
Standing beside the Chair, the Cathaoirleach addressed the House as follows:—
Is mian liom búiochas a ghlacadh libh uilig as ucht mé a cheapadh inniu mar Chathaoirleach ar Sheanad Eireann. Is mór an onóir atá sibh thar éis a bhronnadh orm agus geallaim díbh go mbeidh sé de shíor mar rún agam dualgais na hoifige a chomhlíonadh chómh hiomlán agus chómh cothrom agus is féidir liom sin a dhéanamh.
I dtaca le cómhoibriú agus i dtaca le cáirdeas, tá árd-traduisiún, traduisiún ionmholta, sa tSeanad. Bíonn an cómhoibriú agus an cáirdeas sin ann idir an Cathaoirleach agus Seanadóirí agus bíonn siad go láidir ann idir na Seanadóirí iad féin.
Is dá réir sin atá mé ag guidhe anois go mbeidh na dea-thréithe úd ann i gcónaí sna laete atá i ndon. Chómh fada agus a bhaineas liom fhéin, beidh sé mar phríomh-dhualgas orm an comhoibriú agus an cáirdeas sin a chothú— agus iad a neartú, an oiread agus a bheas sé ar mo chumas.
I wish to thank the members of the Seanad for the honour they have done me in electing me to the Chair here to-day. I assure them that this is an honour I fully appreciate.
I want to assure the House that I shall do my best, at all times, to carry out the duties of the office as fully and as conscientiously as I possibly can.
In the matter of co-operation and friendship there is an excellent tradition in the Seanad. A fine spirit of co-operation and of friendship has always characterised the relations between the Chair and the House and the same commendable spirit has been a notable feature in the relations between Senators in every part of the House.
I now pray that this splendid tradition will continue to prevail. As far as lies in my power to do so, I shall strive to maintain it—and, if at all possible, to strengthen it. Rath Dé go rabh oraibh uile agus ar an obair atá idir lamhaibh agaibh.
