Independent Maureen O’Sullivan eyes ceann comhairle role
Ms O’Sullivan held a meeting with her supporters last night about the role and will make her decision public today.
She said she wanted to consult with her team who helped her get re-elected and claimed it “would not be right” to stop her name going forward for the election.
Ms O’Sullivan, should she be elected when the Dáil convenes on Thursday, would be the first female ceann comhairle.
“It would be very historic to have a first female ceann comhairle,” she said.
“It would have to be part of an overall reform agenda.”
Ms O’Sullivan said a lot of things needed to change within the Dáil itself.
She said having an Independent in the chair would make the chamber a more level playing field.
“I would like to see a different Dáil emerging now that we have a chance.”
Ms O’Sullivan has received a positive response to her bid for the role from a number of Independent TDs and is seen as an early favourite.
Former Fine Gael TD Denis Naughten said Ms O’Sullivan would have his support and said he would only put his own name forward for the position if the inner-city TD did not.
Fianna Fáil has selected Kildare South TD Seán O Fearghail as its candidate for the position of ceann comhairle.
He was chosen at a parliamentary party meeting yesterday afternoon.
Mr Ó Fearghail, who was the party’s whip in the last Dáil, was selected by the members over former education minister Brendan Smith, Cork North-West TD Michael Monyihan, Donegal TD Pat “the Cope” Gallagher, and ex- Public Accounts Committee chairman John McGuinness.
Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin is also in the running to replace incumbent Seán Barrett.
Fine Gael has said any of its TDs who can get seven nominations will be allowed to contest the position.
Waterford TD John Deasy previously said he was interested in the post, given its new increased mandate, and the fact it will be elected by secret ballot.
Mr Deasy, a vocal internal critic of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, believes as the position will now be filled by secret ballot gives it a proper mandate to affect change in the Dáil chamber.
The outgoing vice-chair of the Public Accounts Committee has been at the fore of uncovering sex abuse allegations at a foster home in the South East.
Another Fine Gael TD and former junior minister, Fergus O’Dowd, has already declared his desire to contest the post, while another junior minister, Michael Ring, has also been linked with the post.
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