New Seanad to make key appointments

The new Seanad will meet for the first time today to formally appoint a cathaoirleach and leas-cathaoirleach.

Pat Moylan is expected to be ratified as the new cathaoirleach. The Co Offaly man was chosen for the €111,000-a-year job during a meeting of Fianna Fáil's senators yesterday evening.

He has been a senator for 10 years and is a close friend of Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.

Terry Leyden, Ann Ormonde and Jim Walshe had also put their names forward for the post.

Mr Moylan is expected to be formally elected when the Upper House meets today for the first time since the recent elections.

Government and deputy government leader in the house are senators Donie Cassidy and the Green’s Dan Boyle, one of the negotiators who thrashed out a government coalition pact with Fianna Fáil.

Fianna Fáil, the Greens and the Progressive Democrats hold 33 seats in the 60-member Upper House.

Proceedings begin at 2.30pm.