Search begins for next Ceann Comhairle

NEXT Tuesday the outgoing Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue will enter the Dáil, make a statement, step aside and join his colleagues to vote for his successor.

That is the easy part. Identifying the next person to fill the chair is more difficult. Yesterday Fine Gael’s Sean Barrett said Mr O’Donoghue should resign immediately to prevent the political agenda being dominated by speculation. But the Ceann Comhairle has been granted his week’s grace so let the speculation begin.

The main consideration is focusing not on the current Dáil maths but on the guaranteed seat the Ceann Comhairle would enjoy at the next general election.