Ceann Comhairle
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Hiberno-English Template:Infobox political post Template:PoliticsRofI The Template:Lang (Template:IPA; "Head of [the] Council"; plural usually Template:Lang Template:IPA) is the chairperson<ref name=role>Template:Cite web</ref> (or speaker)<ref name=role/> of Template:Lang, the lower house of the Template:Lang (parliament) of Ireland. The person who holds the position is elected by members of the Template:Lang from among their number in the first session after each general election. The Template:Lang since 18 December 2024 has been Verona Murphy, independent TD. The Template:Lang since 19 February 2025 has been John McGuinness (Fianna Fáil).
Overview
[edit]The Ceann Comhairle is expected to observe strict impartiality. Despite this, a government usually tries to select a member of its own political party for the position, if it has enough deputies to allow that choice. In order to protect the neutrality of the chair, the Constitution of Ireland provides that an incumbent Ceann Comhairle does not seek re-election as a Teachta Dála (Deputy to the Dáil), but rather is deemed automatically to have been re-elected by their constituency at that general election, unless they are retiring.Template:Efn As a consequence, the constituency that an incumbent Ceann Comhairle represents elects one fewer TD in a general election than its usual entitlement, but still has the same number of TDs.Template:Sfn Under standing orders, no member of the government or Minister of State may act as Ceann Comhairle or Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
The Ceann Comhairle does not take part in debates, nor do they vote except in the event of a tie. In this event, they generally vote in accordance with the parliamentary conventions relating to the Speaker of the British House of Commons, which tend to amount to voting against motions. The Ceann Comhairle formally opens each day's sitting by reading the official prayer. The Ceann Comhairle is the sole judge of order in the house and has a number of special functions. Specifically, the Ceann Comhairle:
- Calls on members to speak. All speeches must be addressed to the Ceann Comhairle.
- Puts such questions to the house, and supervises and declares the results of divisions.
- Has authority to suppress disorder. To ensure obedience to his/her rulings the Ceann Comhairle may order members to withdraw from the Dáil or suspend an individual from the House for a period. In the case of great disorder, the Ceann Comhairle can suspend or adjourn the house.
- Rings a bell when deputies are out of order. The bell is a half-sized reproduction of the ancient bell of Lough Lene Castle found at Castle Island, Lough Lene, Castlepollard, County Westmeath in 1881 and now in the National Museum. The reproduction was presented in 1931 by the widow of Bryan Cooper, a former TD.
The Ceann Comhairle is an Template:Lang member of the Presidential Commission, the Council of State, and the Commission for Public Service Appointments.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Since the 1937 Constitution, the Ceann Comhairle has been an Template:Lang member of the Council of State, beginning with Frank Fahy. The earlier presiding officers never served on the Council of State: i.e. those of the Revolutionary Dáil (1919–1922: Cathal Brugha, George Noble Plunkett, Eoin MacNeill, and Michael Hayes) and the Free State Dáil (1922–1936: Hayes again, before Fahy).
History
[edit]The position of Ceann Comhairle was created on the first day of the Dáil on 21 January 1919, when it was first established as a breakaway revolutionary parliament.<ref name=history>Template:Cite web</ref> The first Ceann Comhairle was Cathal Brugha, who served for only one day, presiding over the Dáil's first meeting, before leaving the post to become President of Dáil Éireann. The office was continued under the 1922–1937 Irish Free State, the constitution of which referred to the office-holder as the "Chairman of Dáil Éireann". The practice of automatically re-electing the Ceann Comhairle in a general election was introduced by a constitutional amendment in 1927.Template:Sfn<ref>Template:Cite Irish legislation</ref><ref>Template:Cite Irish legislation</ref> The outgoing Ceann Comhairle is returned at the election for their former party.<ref>See e.g. Template:Cite web and Template:Cite web</ref>
Following the abolition on 11 December 1936 of the office of Governor-General, the Ceann Comhairle was assigned some of the former office's ceremonial functions, including signing bills into law and convening and dissolving the Dáil. These powers were transferred to the new office of President of Ireland when a new Constitution came into force on 29 December 1937, being carried out by the Presidential Commission, which included the Ceann Comhairle, until the first president entered office on 25 June 1938. The new Constitution retained the position of Ceann Comhairle and the practice of automatic re-election.
Patrick Hogan retired due to ill health in 1967, and died in 1969 before the following election. Joseph Brennan died in office in 1980.
John O'Donoghue resigned the office in 2009 after an expenses scandal.<ref name="O'Donoghue Resign">Template:Cite news</ref> As an ordinary TD he was no longer entitled to be returned automatically at 2011 general election, in which he lost his seat.
The Ceann Comhairle was first elected by secret ballot in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Following the 2024 general election, a group of Independent TDs requested that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael support Verona Murphy becoming Ceann Comhairle as a condition of their support for government formation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The request was accepted and with their backing, Murphy won the 2024 Ceann Comhairle election. In doing so, Murphy became the first woman to ever hold the role.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the move was criticised, particularly by the Opposition parties, as traditionally the Ceann Comhairle is supposed to neutral and unaligned in the Dáil. Critics suggested Murphy would have to be loyal to the government if she owed her position to their support.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 1 April 2025, a vote of confidence was held in a Ceann Comhairle for the first time. This arose in response to the speaking rights dispute.<ref name="26 March No Con RTÉ">Template:Cite news</ref> The motion of confidence in Verona Murphy was agreed by a vote of 96 to 71, with 2 abstentions.
Rules for election
[edit]Under the rules for the election of the Ceann Comhairle, introduced during the 31st Dáil, candidates must be nominated by at least seven other members of Dáil Éireann. Each member may nominate only one candidate. Nominations must be submitted to the Clerk of the Dáil by not later than 6 p.m. on the day before the first day the Dáil meets after the general election in order to be valid, but may be withdrawn at any time up to the close of nominations.<ref name=StandingOrders/>
If more than one candidate is nominated, the Dáil will vote by secret ballot in order of preference after the candidates' speeches, which may not exceed five minutes, with an absolute majority required for victory.<ref name=TheJournal_20200217>Template:Cite web</ref> If no candidate wins a majority on first preferences, the individual with the fewest votes will be eliminated and their votes redistributed in accordance with their next highest preference, under the alternative vote voting system.<ref name=StandingOrders>Inaccurately described in Dáil standing orders as "the proportional representation single transferable vote system". Template:Cite web</ref> Eliminations and redistributions will continue until one member receives the requisite absolute majority. Then, the House will vote on a formal motion to appoint the member in question to the position of Ceann Comhairle. The Clerk of the Dáil will be the presiding officer of the House during the election process.
List of office-holders
[edit]Ceann Comhairle
[edit]For each Ceann Comhairle, this tables lists the number of the Dáil, the period in which they held office, their constituencies and their political affiliation immediately prior to their appointment.
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Leas-Cheann Comhairle
[edit]Template:Clear The Leas-Cheann Comhairle holds office as the deputy chairperson of Dáil Éireann under Article 15.9.1 of the constitution. In the absence of the Ceann Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle deputises and performs the duties and exercises the authority of the Ceann Comhairle in Dáil proceedings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Leas-Cheann Comhairle is also elected by secret ballot. The current Leas-Cheann Comhairle is Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness. Traditionally, the position was reserved for an Opposition TD.<ref name=IT_01042011>Template:Cite news</ref> The role carries the pay and status as a Minister of State.
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See also
[edit]- Cathaoirleach (Chairperson of Seanad Éireann)
- Politics of the Republic of Ireland
- History of the Republic of Ireland
- Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic)
- Dáil Éireann (Irish Free State)
- Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, who is referred to as Ceann Comhairle when Irish is spoken.
Footnotes
[edit]References
[edit]Sources
[edit]Citations
[edit]External links
[edit]Template:Politics of the Republic of Ireland2 Template:Irish Free State