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Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Sep 1997

Vol. 152 No. 2

Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach.

I move: That Senator Liam T. Cosgrave be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach.

As I said on the Order of Business, all Members appreciate the continuation of the long-standing tradition that the two major constitutional offices of this House are shared between the Government and Opposition.

I have great pleasure in moving this motion. Members of the last Seanad will not be surprised that Senator Cosgrave was the choice of our group. He was a first class Cathaoirleach who inherited the office under tragic circumstances at a very difficult time for all Members. As Cathaoirleach he was fair, approachable, in possession of a sense of humour and available to all Members. Most of all, he has an understanding of politics and is perceived as being fair by all Members. We will be very lucky if Senator Cosgrave is elected Leas-Chathaoirleach because we will have in him and the Cathaoirleach two people who are utterly respected by both sides of the House and who are first-class ambassadors for this House. It gives me great pleasure to propose Senator Cosgrave as Leas-Chathaoirleach.

It gives me great pleasure to second the motion. As Senator Manning said, those of us who have served with Senator Cosgrave over the years know his very fine qualities. In the last Seanad he served as Opposition Whip, Government Whip and, in the last year, as Cathaoirleach. He was very courteous and impartial to all Members of that Seanad. We all know his fine qualities and it gives me great pleasure to second his nomination.

Since 1937 Fianna Fáil has honoured a tradition in this House which was only broken on one occasion, and not by the Fianna Fáil Party. We have great pleasure in supporting the nomination of Senator Cosgrave. We had the experience of working under his stewardship as your predecessor, Sir. He was very fair and impartial and, as the Leader of the Opposition said, he has a great sense of humour. He has been a great friend of all Senators and I have great pleasure in supporting, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, his nomination as Leas-Chathaoirleach.

The Independent group has considered the position, as we do after every election. We wish to restate the position articulated by Senator Brendan Ryan this morning — we agree with the sharing of office between both sides of the House and we do not believe it should be in the gift of parties which happen to have larger numbers than other groups. We had a number of chats with members of Fine Gael, the largest party on this side of the House, and it is not our intention to put forward a candidate on this occasion. However, that does not mean anything in the context of future occasions.

On a personal basis, I am delighted to see the accession of Senator Cosgrave to this office. I wish him well.

On behalf of the Progressive Democrats, I wish to support the nomination of Senator Cosgrave to the office of Leas-Chathaoirleach. He is well qualified for the office having been an excellent Cathaoirleach. His family credentials were mentioned when he was elected to the office of Cathaoirleach and I will not reiterate them. It is a good convention that the offices are shared by the opposite sides of the House and it reflects well on the Seanad. I am happy to support Senator Cosgrave's nomination.

On behalf of the Labour Party I am pleased to support the nomination of Senator Cosgrave for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach. He is a gentleman and his family has one of the finest and longest traditions of political contribution in the State. We expect fairness and integrity and the Senator will honour the office.

Question put and agreed to.

I congratulate Senator Cosgrave on his election as Leas-Chathaoirleach. It was a pleasure to work with him in the last Seanad, particularly during his term as Cathaoirleach. He was fair, impartial and most helpful to all Senators. I am sure he will continue in that fashion in his role as Leas-Chathaoirleach. I look forward to working in close co-operation with him.

I thank the House for its unanimous support. I look forward to continuing the co-operation with the Members who have been returned and I welcome the new Members. I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his well deserved elevation to that office. We have worked well together in the past and I am sure we will continue to do so. I thank the staff of the Seanad office for their help.

I wholeheartedly congratulate Senator Cosgrave on his election to the office of Leas-Chathaoirleach. I hope the various councils and authorities in the country would note that we share power in the Seanad. That tradition has not been broken by Fianna Fáil.

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