Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 9 Oct 1981

Vol. 96 No. 2

Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Mr. E. Ryan

I move:

That Senator Séamus Dolan be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach.

I have much pleasure in proposing Senator Séamus Dolan for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach. He has been a Member of this House for many years and held the position of Cathaoirleach for the last four years. He has always been both respected and popular on all sides of the House and the Leader of the House paid him a generous tribute yesterday. I have no doubt that if elected to the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach he would show the same dedication, the same impartiality, the same integrity which he has shown in the past. I have great pleasure in proposing him for the position.

Mr. W. Ryan

It gives me great pleasure to second the motion for the election of Senator Séamus Dolan as Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Mr. Ferris

It is appropriate to put on the record the attitude of my party to the filling of these posts in this House. We are a significant group in the Seanad and quite rightly we avail of the opportunity to have discussions regarding the filling of these posts. The greatest tribute that we can pay to the Senator proposed for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach is that we would not oppose him for that position. Senator Timothy McAuliffe had been chosen by our group as a possible contestant for the post and we were also, as a party, conscious of our responsibilities to ensure that fair play would also be appropriate in this House. It is fitting, in our opinion, that the Opposition should hold this post and it is also fitting that the name of Senator Séamus Dolan should be the one before the House. On behalf of my party I should like to be associated with supporting Senator Dolan and I wish him well and pay tribute to him for his performance as Cathaoirleach in the previous Seanad. I have served with him in the past and I know of his impartiality and his tremendous work and dedication to this House.

Mr. J. Harte

I should like to add to what Senator Ferris has said. We have had a wonderful four years under the chairmanship of Senator Séamus Dolan. I know that he will do a very good job for us. The man we had in mind was Senator Tim McAuliffe and if we had had discussions and it actually came to a name I think we would have got the support of the Fianna Fáil people for a man of his calibre. But being what he is, Senator McAuliffe agreed that we should make sure that there was fair play. In view of the way the Fianna Fáil Party treated us on the last occasion we would be very pleased to see them get this position. Since it is Senator Séamus Dolan who is proposed it makes it all the easier for us to agree and we wish the Leas-Chathaoirleach very well over the next period of time.

Question put and agreed to.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

Ba mhaith liom ar dtús mo bhuíochas a ghabháil do na Seanadóirí a thogh mé d'aon guth mar Leas-Chathaoirleach, Seanad Éireann. Tuigim gur post an-thabhachtach é agus déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall Cothrom na Féinne a thabhairt do gach duine.

I would like to thank my proposer and seconder and all of the Senators for unanimously selecting me for this very important and onerous post of Leas-Chathaoirleach. I would like to thank in particular Senator Gemma Hussey, the Leader of the House, for the complimentary remarks which she made regarding my performance as Cathaoirleach over the last four years. I would also like to thank Senator Michael Ferris with whom I served in the Seanad. I have pleasant memories of that period. I would also thank my old friend, Senator Harte, for his contribution.

Senator Tim McAuliffe was mentioned and he is an old colleague and a good friend and I would agree with what has been said regarding his capabilities had he been chosen to contest the post. He would certainly have been an excellent choice. Go raibh míle maith agaibh, a cháirde.

An Cathaoirleach

The Chair is very happy to have the experience and the co-operation of the Leas-Chathaoirleach from which to draw and I thank the House for the support.