Dáil Day One: Let’s do some work, says new ceann comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl has promised to deliver substantial reform of how the Dáil is run now he has been elected ceann comhairle. He is the first to be elected by secret ballot.

The Kildare South TD was successful in overcoming the challenge of fellow TDs Andrew Doyle, Wicklow; Bernard J Durkan, Kildare North; Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Cavan-Monaghan; and Maureen O’Sullivan, Dublin Central.

He was elected on the fourth count and secured 74 votes in total, and finished 16 votes ahead of Fine Gael’s Andrew Doyle. The Fianna Fáil party whip in the last Dáil, Mr Ó Fearghaíl is a popular politician.

Married with one son and three daughters, Mr Ó Fearghaíl was first elected to the Dáil in 2002 having contested four previous elections unsuccessfully between 1987 and 1997.

There is some suspicion that he secured the support of a number of Fine Gael TDs which helped him secure the position.

As the Fianna Fáil whip, it was his responsibility to ensure TDs turned up to vote. He also served on the Committee for Procedure and Privileges which has the powers to sanction deputies who step out of line.

His election means the three-seat Kildare South constituency is reduced to a two seater. Early favourite, Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan, was eliminated after the third count. After that count, Seán Ó’Fearghail was on 61 votes, while Fine Gael’s Andrew Doyle was trailing behind with 48 votes. Fine Gael’s Bernard Durkan was eliminated after the first count and his 21 votes distributed.

While Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin was eliminated after the second count having received just 24 votes and no transfers.

Ms O’Sullivan was eliminated on the third count and her votes saw Mr Ó Fearghaíl elected. His election will mean he will be automatically re-elected as TD to the 33rd Dáil.

The result was ratified by the Dáil yesterday. On taking the chair, Mr Ó Fearghaíl said he was honoured and privilege to be elected. He started his new job by quipping: “let’s do some work”.

He paid tribute to his predecessor Seán Barrett for the work he had done “in a deeply difficult time for this country”.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was really important in a changed political landscape that Mr O Fearghaíl was the first ceann comhairle since the foundation of the State “to draw your authority from the vote by secret ballot of all of the members of this chamber”.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin congratulated him and his family.