New Ceann Comhairle top of Dáil agenda

THE first thing the new Dáil will do when it convenes on Thursday is not elect a Taoiseach, but a Ceann Comhairle.

And while it’s fairly clear that Bertie Ahern will remain Taoiseach once that position is voted upon, there’s no such certainty yet about whom the Ceann Comhairle will be.

Fianna Fáil’s Seamus Kirk, Fine Gael’s Seymour Crawford, Labour’s Ruairi Quinn and Independent Tony Gregory are just some of the names which have been mentioned in recent days.