Ceann comhairle election may be secret vote

The Government is considering holding the election of a future ceann comhairle by secret ballot, raising the possibility of an opposition TD sitting securing the highly influential position.

The Irish Examiner understands that a major Dáil reform package set to be announced later today will state it still hasn’t decided whether the election or nomination of ceann comhairle will be held by open ballot as it is now, or a secret ballot in the future.

While the ceann comhairle represents all the deputies in the Dáil and is non-political, the position has in the past been accused of protecting the government in the heat of debates.