Person: Sean O Fearghail

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Verona Murphy is the current Ceann Comhairle. Picture: Flickr/Houses of Oireachtas</p>

politics

ieExplains: What is the Ceann Comhairle and what do they do?

Ceann Comhairle, meaning Head of Council, acts as speaker or presiding officer for the Dáil

<p>The bike shelter at Leinster House holds 18 bikes and the structure consists of a steel-framed, glazed canopy to ensure long-term durability, the OPW said.</p>

politics

Ceann Comhairle brands cost of €336k Leinster House bike shed a 'profound embarrassment'

<p>President Michael D Higgins, centre front, convened a meeting of the Council of State in Áras an Uachtaráin on Monday for the purpose of his hearing from the Council regarding the constitutionality of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024. Picture: Maxwells</p>

politics

Why has President Higgins convened the Council of State?

ourview

Irish Examiner view: Ireland's influence abroad helped ensure Tori Towey's safe return

politics

Visitor to my office ‘wanted to cut my head off’, says Ceann Comhairle

news

Planning underway for Palestinian president to visit Ireland and address Oireachtas

Gardaí and Department of Agriculture investigating 'horror hole' horse abattoir

Government vows 'abhorrent and distressing' treatment of horses will be fully examined

Thu, 13 Jun, 2024

Palestinian flag unfurled on grounds of Leinster House despite Ceann Comhairle refusal

Bríd Smith said: 'The double standards are breathtaking'

Wed, 15 May, 2024

Paul Hosford: TDs go back to the future as new Dáil term begins

A Fine Gael vs Sinn Féin skirmish? Check. House suspended? Check. Going by its first day back, the 33rd Dáil's last full year looks remarkably like last year really

Wed, 17 Jan, 2024

Mick Clifford: Fear and loathing at Leinster House

The scenes outside Leinster House last Wednesday require a swift and serious response from the criminal justice system. The harassing and attacking of public representatives and others demands no less. This was not an ordinary public order incident.

Sun, 24 Sep, 2023

Barriers may be used to keep protesters 1.6km from Leinster House

Existing public order legislation allows gardaí restrict access to places such as Kildare St with barriers up to a mile away

Fri, 22 Sep, 2023

Ciara Phelan: Hatred that spilled over outside the Dáil has been brewing for some time

A national conversation is needed about how to push back on this group to show we’re serious that hate won’t be tolerated

Thu, 21 Sep, 2023

Clare TD to make garda complaint after threat of hanging

A Clare TD has said he will not be “bullied” from doing his work after receiving messages on social media branding him a paedophile and threatening that he will be hanged outside his home.

Fri, 23 Jun, 2023

Rory Carroll: Joe Biden’s Ireland trip reinforces the narrative of the American dream

JFK set the template and, this week, Joe Biden's Irish trip has reinforced the Ellis Island narrative of the US as a land of opportunity for immigrants from all over the world

Fri, 14 Apr, 2023

Una Ring and Eve McDowell, co-founders of Stalking Ireland, outside Leinster House, with Senator Lisa Chamber, Fianna Fail, who

Irish Examiner view: We need a specific law against stalking

UCC report and the establishment of an Oireachtas taskforce underline how pervasive stalking and harassment have become

Wed, 22 Mar, 2023

Irish welcome for refugees an 'unprecedented national effort'

Since January around 5,000 people have arrived from Ukraine and 2,000 from other countries sought international protection

Fri, 24 Feb, 2023

File Photo Anne Rabbitte has been appointed Junior Minister at Department of Health and the Department of Justice and Equality (

Anne Rabbitte 'horrified beyond belief' after cow dung attack

Galway East TD has curtailed the number of public events she attends since a bag of excrement was thrown at her at a meeting in January

Sun, 19 Feb, 2023

Politicians 'at risk of attack' could get up to €5k for enhanced security

The money given to each politician would depend on what security measures have been recommended to them

Wed, 25 Jan, 2023

Daniel McConnell: They huffed and puffed but failed to blow Paschal down

“I don’t know if you are interested in my answer or my head,” Paschal Donohoe barbed across the Dáil toward Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty in the sharpest clash of the day.

Tue, 24 Jan, 2023

Irish Examiner view: Vile abuse of female politicians warrants severe punishment

Targeting of TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill by successive aggressors highlights deplorable underbelly of Irish society and moves to provide her with protection are right and proper

Fri, 30 Dec, 2022

Government to help fund extra security measures for politicians

It comes as newly appointed junior minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has been harassed by a second man in two months

Thu, 29 Dec, 2022

Seven Oireachtas members amend Dáil declarations in wake of Robert Troy resignation

Education Minister Norma Foley and Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail are among those to have made changes to their declarations of interests

Thu, 13 Oct, 2022

Elaine Loughlin: Retrofit plan will go up in smoke if we can’t find people to do the work

Elaine Loughlin: Babies' visits to Oireachtas highlight childcare challenges that parents face

Parents — notably, both mothers — brought their babies along to their workplace in the Dáil and Seanad recently. Their visits underline how far we have to go to facilitate all working parents

Tue, 11 Oct, 2022

Mary Butler recovering after cancer surgery

The junior health minister was told she had skin cancer by a doctor she met on a work trip to Brussels

Mon, 03 Oct, 2022

Ceann Comhairle rejects Taoiseach's claims about interruptions and heckling

Seán Ó Fearghaíl said 'some leaders' in the Dáil ignored the chair and only sought protection 'when the temperature rises'

Wed, 21 Sep, 2022

Rushing legislation a 'serious and sustained abuse' of legislative process

Civil liberty groups and leading academics have written to the Dáil chairman to raise “serious concerns” about the rushing of legislation

Fri, 15 Jul, 2022

Daniel McConnell: A farewell speech from master on last day of school for TDs

There was a sense of going through the motions for the last Leaders' Questions before the Dáil's summer recess, until the Ceann Comhairle gave a a sort of valedictory speech.

Thu, 14 Jul, 2022

Culture wars 'weaponised' against LGBTQI+ community

Ireland a progressive nation but LGBTQI+ people face 'significant barriers to full participation in public life'

Thu, 23 Jun, 2022

Ceann Comhairle salary higher than every other politician, except the President

The Oireachtas has said that any Leinster House office holder may have chosen to waive some salary or allowance

Mon, 06 Jun, 2022

Daniel McConnell: In his own words, Phil Hogan was the author of his own downfall

Despite recent revisionist interpretations, the facts make nonsense of the notion that the former European commissioner had been hung out to dry after Golfgate

Sat, 26 Feb, 2022

Ceann Comhairle takes action following president's complaint over legislative logjam

Seán Ó Fearghaíl is to write to every minister and their top officials over delays in new laws coming through following complaints from President Michael D Higgins

Fri, 30 Jul, 2021

Dáil sittings to remain in the Convention Centre until at least September

Moving the sittings from Leinster House is costing up to €25,000 per day

Thu, 10 Jun, 2021

PAC in bid to change rule that 'paralyses' spending watchdog

The committee can only question witnesses about accounts audited by the C&AG after Supreme Court ruling

Wed, 31 Mar, 2021

Revealed: Watt could get €105k and enhanced pension if he is not appointed to top health job

The 'Irish Examiner' has seen correspondence showing what the acting health chief is entitled to if his job is not made permanent

Tue, 23 Mar, 2021

Secretary general of Department of Education agrees to appear before PAC

Ceann Comhairle had suggested the committee may not have jurisdiction to ask about Leaving Certificate debacle

Thu, 15 Oct, 2020

The practicalities of a vote for new Taoiseach amid Covid-19 restrictions

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar takes part in a photocall to promote the wearing of facemasks on public transport in Dublin city centre. Picture: Press Association

Tue, 23 Jun, 2020

Compliance officer needed to monitor TDs for signs of Covid-19

A health and safety report commissioned as part of a review of the Houses of the Oireachtas due to Covid-19 has recommended that a compliance officer be nominated to “ensure social distancing and hygiene rules are being maintained within the chamber”.

Mon, 04 May, 2020

Varadkar asks Naughten to fill role of Leas-Cheann Comhairle as temporary measure

The election of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle could create another obstacle for the state, as the country remains without a mandated government.

Wed, 25 Mar, 2020

McDonald and Martin clash on first day of Dáil

A bitter personal row between Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin marred the first day’s sitting of the 33rd Dáil, which failed to elect a Taoiseach.

Fri, 21 Feb, 2020

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Even handed Ceann Comhairle who made the Dáil a 'more relevant' place

Seán Ó Fearghaíl, the newly-elected Ceann Comhairle of the 33rd Dáil, took five attempts before finally taking his seat in Dáil Éireann in the aftermath of the 2002 general election.

Thu, 20 Feb, 2020

Sean Ó Fearghaíl 'enormously humbled' by his re-election as Ceann Comhairle

Mr Ó Fearghaíl received 130 votes against 28 delivered for Denis Naughten, beating the quota by 50 votes.

Thu, 20 Feb, 2020

Voting underway for role of Ceann Comhairle as both candidates pitch distinct mandates

Both candidates for the role of Ceann Comhairle in the new Dáil have made their pitch speeches for election.

Thu, 20 Feb, 2020

Sean Ó Feargháil set to retain role as Ceann Comhairle

Incumbent Ceann Comhairle Sean Ó Fearghaíl looks primed in pole position to retain his role as the Dáil meets for the first time this afternoon.

Thu, 20 Feb, 2020

Ó Fearghaíl re-election puts SF and FF neck and neck

Seán Ó Fearghaíl as Ceann Comhairle will leave Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin neck and neck with voting TD numbers in the race to lead the next government.

Thu, 20 Feb, 2020

Seán Ó Fearghaíl on track to retain Ceann Comhairle role

Seán Ó Fearghaíl is on track to win a second term as Ceann Comhairle when deputies meet for the new Dáil tomorrow and as parties struggle to find a consensus on forming the next government.

Wed, 19 Feb, 2020

Fergus O'Dowd will not run for Ceann Comhairle seat

Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd has ruled himself out of the race to become the Ceann Comhairle in the 33rd Dàil.

Tue, 18 Feb, 2020

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.

Sat, 15 Feb, 2020

Solidarity/PBP TDs want to expand legal action on Bill's 'money messages'

Deputies Brid Smith, Richard Boyd Barrett, Gino Kenny and Paul Murphy claim a Bill seeking to link exploration licences with meeting carbon reduction targets has been “strangled” by the Ceann Comhairle.

Mon, 02 Dec, 2019

Four TDs launch High Court challenge against decision not to allow new bill on Dáil rules to be debated

They have mounted the legal action against the Ceann Comhairle's decision not to allow a new bill on Dáil rules to be debated.

Wed, 06 Nov, 2019

Opposition TDs to have emergency judicial review hearing this afternoon

Two Opposition TDs have gone to the High Court to see an injunction against Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail over his decision to disallow a new bill due to be debated in the Dáil today.

Wed, 06 Nov, 2019