Q&A: What happens when the new Dáil sits next week

A vote for Ceann Comhairle first order of business in 33rd Dáil, says Cianan Brennan.

What is happening on Thursday?

The 33rd Dáil will be in session for the first time, despite the fact negotiations regarding the establishment of a new government have thus far proved entirely fruitless.

How will the day shape up?

Nominations and a vote will be taken for Ceann Comhairle, the head and adjudicator of house proceedings.

The Dáil cannot take session without this vote taking place so it will be the first order of business.

So, who is looking to be Ceann Comhairle?

Current incumbent Seán Ó Fearghaíl has stated his happiness to be nominated once more, though Fianna Fáil may feel that it needs every TD it can get given the current state of play.

Labour’s Brendan Howlin had been seen as an ideal candidate in the wake of his resignation as party leader.

However, Mr Howlin has ruled himself out of the running.

That leaves Fine Gael’s Kildare deputy Bernard Durkan as a likely candidate, having run for the job once before in 2016.

One candidate who has come out of left-field is independent TD for Roscommon and former minister for communications Denis Naughten.

Will we have a vote for Taoiseach?

We certainly could, but it isn’t likely. The primary business of the Dáil on its first day is generally the process for electing a new Taoiseach.

Anyone can be nominated, with a little spiel generally accompanying whoever does the nominating — it was now ex-Fine Gael TD Noel Rock for Enda Kenny and Leo Varadkar in the most recent contests, for example, while Ruth Coppinger did the honours for Richard Boyd Barrett in 2016.

However, given the state of the numbers following the election, and the fact parties are more keen to rule themselves out of government than put themselves forward, a vote is unlikely, given at present there are no outstanding candidates.

That could change in the meantime, but it isn’t likely.

[snippet1]977032[/snippet1]

Any other speeches to be made?

TDs, old and new and particularly the latter, may feel the need to have their say on what they made of the election and the political stasis that has ensued but that’s likely to be the extent of it.

More likely the Ceann Comhairle will adjourn proceedings so that government formation discussions can continue unimpeded.

When is the next sitting day?

Your guess is as good as ours.

Don’t be expecting anything anytime soon given the lack of consensus regarding government formation at present.