Maureen O’Sullivan to compete for ceann comhairle

Dublin Central TD Maureen O’Sullivan will compete for the role of ceann comhairle when the new Dáil votes on the position during a secret ballot tomorrow.

The Independent TD is now seen as one of the top three contenders to win the vote alongside Fianna Fáil’s Seán Ó Fearghaíl and Fine Gael’s Andrew Doyle.

Ms O’Sullivan said she had not canvassed anyone for support for the ballot and said if she did not win that she would continue her role as a TD.

She thanked Greens leader Eamon Ryan, who first approached her about the position, and TDs who had signed her nomination papers. The Green Party’s two TDs said they would support Ms O’Sullivan in a vote.

Wicklow TD Andrew Doyle has also confirmed he has received the required seven names needed for the nomination of ceann comhairle tomorrow.

The Fine Gael TD said he was also hoping to get the support of a number of Labour as well as Independent TDs in his bid to be elected chairman of the Dáil.

Mr Doyle is expected to speak about why he wants to be Dáil chairman at a meeting of Fine Gael’s parliamentary party today. His party colleague, Kildare North TD Bernard Durkan, also confirmed yesterday that he would put his name forward for the position. The party’s Waterford TD John Deasy is expected to indicate today that he will not put his name forward while another Fine Gael TD, Louth’s Fergus O’Dowd, did not return calls on whether he would compete for the role.

Meanwhile, Labour TD Brendan Ryan, who survived a voter backlash against the party, said it was his understanding that the party’s remaining seven TDs could vote for their own preferred candidates for the post.

“But we will chose tactically,” he said. However, the Dublin-Fingal TD did say there was no formal agreement yet on how party TDs would vote on the nomination for taoiseach tomorrow. A Labour spokesman said TDs would be voting for Mr Kenny on Thursday, as had been “agreed” in a Fine Gael-Labour pact made before the general election.

Elsewhere, Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin will be put forward by his party as a candidate for ceann comhairle. Deputy party leader Mary Lou McDonald said yesterday that she would consider giving her constituency colleague, Maureen O’Sullivan, a second preference for the vote. However, a win for Ms O’Sullivan would reduce Ms McDonald’s constituency to a two-seater.