The House will now proceed to the election of a Leas-Chathaoirleach. Pursuant to the Standing Orders, the motions proposing candidates will be formally moved and seconded in the order in which they appear on the Order Paper. The names of the candidates will then be submitted to a preliminary vote. Voting papers will be distributed by the ushers, and each Senator will write on his voting paper the names of not more than two candidates. He must then sign the voting paper in the place provided and hand it to the Clerk. I shall ask if all Senators desiring to vote have voted, and the Clerk will then proceed to count the votes. Once I have given directions to the Clerk to begin the count, no further voting papers may be received. The voting lists will be duly published in the Official Report of the Debates.
When the count has been completed I shall announce the result thereof and the names of the two Senators obtaining the highest number of votes will then be submitted to the House and a division taken between them, tellers being appointed for each candidate. The division bell will be rung, and after the usual five minutes' interval has elapsed the bell will be rung again and the doors locked. The result of the division will be announced from the Chair, and the candidate obtaining the highest number of votes will be declared to have been duly elected as Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad.
I will ask those Senators who have nominated candidates formally to move the adoption of their candidates.
