We now proceed to the selection of a candidate for the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle by way of secret ballot. I call upon the Clerk of the Dáil, Mr. Peter Finnegan, to conduct the proceedings.
Ainmniú Iarrthóirí agus Leas-Cheann Comhairle a thoghadh - Selection of Candidate and Election of Leas-Cheann Comhairle
Cléireach na Dála
I must inform the House that having received and examined nominations for the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the following is the list of validly nominated candidates: Deputy John McGuinness and Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh.
As there is more than one candidate, the candidate who will be proposed for election by the House will be selected by secret ballot. Before proceeding to the secret ballot, I will in alphabetical order call on each candidate to speak on their own behalf or, where the candidate has nominated another Member to speak on their behalf, I will call on that Member. Each speaker will have five minutes. I now call on Deputy John McGuinness.
First, I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on her election. I have not spoken in the Chamber since then. While I was a candidate in that election, she was the chosen one and I wish her well in her term of office. I want to thank the people of Carlow-Kilkenny for giving me the opportunity to represent them here once again and the fact that they gave me such a strong mandate. To all those who signed my nomination paper, and my own party, Fianna Fáil, I thank them for that support. I look forward to the contest here today.
I wish to avail of the few minutes we have to put before the House some of the things that I stand for and have stood for since my first election to local government in 1979 and, thereafter, my election to the Dáil in 1997. I believe the status quo has to be challenged at all times for the better. I believe disruptors in the system are necessary because we cannot become complacent in the work we do on behalf of the people who elect us. Along with reform, that has been the cornerstone of my contribution to public life, always with an emphasis on public service. That is necessary for all of us to understand.
This Dáil has a serious obligation and responsibility because of the changes that are taking place in the world to bring forward the reforms that are necessary and to put in place the type of Administration that will best deliver to the people whom all of us represent. It needs to deliver on value for money, supporting front-line workers, gardaí and the Army, and making sure that the marginalised, the sick and the elderly are central to all of what we do. Of course, this Chamber has an obligation to ensure the Government lives up to its first obligation, which is to keep its people safe.
All of this has a lot to do with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Ceann Comhairle and the different cathaoirligh who are there to support the Ceann Comhairle in her role because all of these issues need to be debated in constructive way in this House. All of the Members deserve the right to have the time to have the necessary forum available to them to bring forward their own views and to bring forward what is of concern to them and their constituents. The rights of Members must be defended all of the time. We must always consider those whom we represent in terms of priority to them. As they look in at the debates in the Dáil, we have to use those debates and the various events in the course of our time here in Leinster House to instil confidence in the public.
I would say to Members that there is a need for all of us to be respectful of each other and of what we say here in the Dáil and to ensure we do not insult one another and, thereby, send out wrong messages, nor indeed misbehave to the extent that people lose faith in democracy itself. To do that, I would say to Members that all of us have the time to contribute. All of us are equal here in this House and we should all be listened to. That goes for Government as well, because I have often seen arguments start because of a lack of direct information coming from Government in terms of parliamentary questions and in terms of response times for the agencies of the State as they respond to the queries of Members as put forward in this House through written or oral parliamentary questions. I have seen great debates in this House where lots has been said and yet some of the key points made by Opposition and by Government back benchers have not been included in the policy or legislation that was being discussed. If we are all equal, if we all recognise and are respectful of each other and know the job, we have to do, I believe that we can bring about the type of reform that is absolutely necessary as we move into a different world.
I mention the Gaeilge versus Béarla debate that has gone on in this House.
Time is up, Deputy.
It clearly states in Standing Orders that the language is English and Irish, and while I may not be a fluent Gaeilgeoir, I can tell Members I have a great love for the Irish language and will use it occasionally as best I can. I would say to all of the Members here that there is no embarrassment about not being able to speak the Irish language fluently and we should try it every time we get the opportunity. To be respectful to everyone, however, if you do say something in Irish in the middle of a heated debate, it might be no harm if you repeated it in English thereafter. It might avoid a lot of work on committees and debate in this House.
Cléireach na Dála
I now call Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh.
B’fhéidir go raibh an méid a chuala muid ansin níos spéisiúla ná an méid atá le rá agam. Smaoiním siar fadó fadó, dhá mhí go leith ó shin, nuair a tháinig muid le chéile ar dtús báire tar éis an toghcháin. Bhí gliondar inár gcroíthe ag an am agus sceitimíní orthu siúd a bhí tofa den chéad uair. Bhí sceitimíní orm féin agus ar dhaoine eile a bhí san iomaíocht don phost mór, post an Cheann Comhairle, ag an am. Agus é sin ráite, níor éirigh liom. Ní raibh an lá liom. Ba mhaith liom cur i gcuimhne don Teach rud a dúirt mé ar an lá sin. B’fhéidir go bhfuil tábhacht bhreise leis i ndiaidh na seachtaine atá tar éis a bheith ann. Dúirt mé an méid seo ag an am: "in a bilingual House with two official languages we need a Chair who can monitor and, if necessary, step in and apply the rules and protections of this House equally to everyone, whether it be as Gaeilge nó as Béarla." That might not mean much to many here who operate exclusively in English but I ask them to put themselves in my shoes and those of other Deputies here in this House who are Gaeilgeoirí, who were raised as Gaeilge or who have learnt Irish and operate wholly as Gaeilge at this stage or who are rearing their kids le Gaeilge.
I was raised in this city. Gaeilge was my first language. I could not speak English properly until I was seven, and most people say I cannot speak it properly still, but I am most comfortable speaking Irish. I work in Irish, I think in Irish; what is the saying: "work, rest and play". I was privileged in the previous two Dáileanna to be the Chair of the committee here which operates wholly as Gaeilge. It translates nothing, except for whatever the translators translate to English in the background. That was a move which was welcomed by us who are Gaeilgeoirí and those in the Irish society outside.
I am happy I am not the only Teachta Dála who grew up speaking Gaeilge. Many of the new TDs elected to this Dáil did so and are, in fact, raising their children and the families le Gaeilge. One of the first things an Irish-speaking child learns is "ná hinis bréag". Every Irish speaker, and most English speakers, also know what this means by second nature because Irish is a living language, not just a mysterious museum exhibit that needs to be discussed in academic terms with erroneous references to dictionary entries. If I am elected, I pledge not to inis bréag to the Ceann Comhairle or as Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I will operate in all the languages I have, which is Irish and English, and I will treat everybody here equally in both of those languages.
I do not doubt the good intentions of both the Ceann Comhairle and my fellow candidate today for the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle to brush up on their cúpla focal, and I welcome them. Más féidir liom aon chabhair in aon chor a thabhairt, táim sásta é sin a dhéanamh d'aon duine sa Teach seo nó lasmuigh de. Cuideoidh mé leo teacht ar an nGaeilge atá acu. I believe everybody has Irish. They have learnt Irish. It is sitting in the back of your brain. Sometimes it needs to be stimulated, whether by a pint or by only conversation, I do not know. Many an Irish person has more Irish when they are abroad than they do when they are at home. It is there and needs to be stimulated and I think we should go that way. We should listen to the former Fine Gael Minister, Joe McHugh, and his new book, Beidh Tú Alright. People should look at the journey he took in terms of learning the Irish language when he got landed with a job that he was delighted to take. He put his heart and soul into relearning the Irish language. In many cases, that is what it is.
This job is not just about the Irish language. it is about ensuring all of the Members are represented. In the Chair, we have an eminent and, as has been proven so far, quite able Ceann Comhairle but there are times when the Ceann Comhairle will not be here and it is the job of a Leas-Cheann Comhairle to step in and represent her and represent the Members' interests, which, if you want, are all individually packaged. This is not a party-political position. This is a position where you have independence once you sit into that chair. You have to apply the rules and regulations equally.
I have been on the Dáil reform committee for more than two decades. It keeps changing its name. It had always been the CPP and it is now called the CPPO or something. I have been a member of those and I have worked diligently over those years to try to promote better working in this House in the interests of the TDs, in the interests of us in here being able to do our work as fairly, as positively and, sometimes, as quickly as we can to ensure we are representing not only the interests of our constituents, our constituency and our political parties but also the democracy that has elected us here in the first place.
I urge Members to use the opportunity to remember that this is a secret ballot. It is not in the gift of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste or any political party leader or group leader.
It is in their interests to look at that again and think about who would best represent them as Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
Cléireach na Dála
Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta Ó Snodaigh. That concludes the contributions from candidates. We will now ring the bells for six minutes, and when they stop, we will proceed to the secret ballot. When the bells have stopped, I ask all Members to retake their seats and we will direct them, row by row, to the division lobby.
The ushers will shortly direct Members to proceed to the voting lobby at the back of the Chamber to cast their ballots. I ask that Members remain in their seats until directed by the ushers.
Before the voting begins I call on the Head Usher and deputy head usher to confirm the ballot boxes, to my left and right in the voting lobby are empty. The Head Usher and deputy head usher have confirmed the ballot boxes are empty and both boxes are locked. We are now ready to start the ballot.
Voting will proceed, row by row, starting with the first row to my left, and moving to the right, as directed by the ushers. To reach the voting lobby, Members should use the central staircase immediately in front of me. For health and safety reasons, I ask Members not to queue on the staircase as the stairs are very steep. The ushers will direct you to ascend when the staircase is clear. When directed to do so, please proceed by the central staircase to be issued with your ballot paper. Officials in the voting lobby will ask you to confirm your name. They will cross your name off the register and issue you with a stamped and embossed ballot paper. There are eight voting booths in total; four each on the left and right at the top of the stairs. Members with surnames beginning A to H should go to the left at the top of the stairs and members with surnames beginning I to Z should go to the right. The ballot will be counted under the proportional representation single transferable vote, PRSTV, system. Accordingly, you may number the candidates in the order of your choice.
If you inadvertently spoil your ballot paper, you should present it to me. I will inspect the ballot paper and may decide to allow a replacement paper to be issued. In such cases, I will retain the original ballot paper and issue a certificate in order that another ballot paper can be issued from the officials in the division lobby.
The ballot will remain open for 60 minutes or until all Members intending to vote have cast their votes, whichever is the earlier. Once the ballot is closed, the House will stand suspended until 4 p.m. The ushers will now direct Members row by row to the voting lobby. I ask Members to please wait until called forward by the ushers. When you have finished casting your vote, please come back to the floor of the House via the side stairs and exit the Chamber by way of the doors behind me.
Chaith Teachtaí vótaí ansin i mballóid rúnda san ord leagtha síos ag Cléireach na Dála. Members proceeded to vote in a secret ballot in the order directed by the Clerk of the Dáil.
Cléireach na Dála
As 60 minutes has now elapsed, the ballot is concluded. The counting of votes will take place at 3 p.m. in room 003/004 in the basement of Leinster House, which is open to everyone who wishes to attend, space permitting.
Cuireadh an Dáil ar fionraí ar 2.32 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 4.01 p.m.
Sitting suspended at 2.32 p.m. and resumed at 4.01 p.m.