First Woman Elected Speaker of Irish Parliament Expresses Humility

Independent Wexford TD Verona Murphy has been elected as the Ceann Comhairle (speaker) of Dáil Éireann, becoming the first woman to ever hold this position. In her address on Wednesday, delivered at the Dáil’s initial sitting since November’s general election, she stated she was “humbled, honoured and privileged” to have been chosen by her fellow TDs (members of the Irish parliament). John McGuinness and Seán Ó Fearghaíl of Fianna Fáil, along with Aengus Ó Snodaigh from Sinn Féin, were also candidates for the role. The composition of the new government remains undetermined, as the election did not yield an outright winner. The vote to elect the 34th Dáil took place on 29 November, with Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, and Fine Gael securing the most seats. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are currently in discussions with the Regional Independent group, aiming for the group to become the third component of the next government. This group had requested both parties to support Murphy’s nomination. On Tuesday, Fianna Fáil announced its backing for its leader’s endorsement of Murphy’s candidacy for Ceann Comhairle. The Tánaiste (deputy prime minister), Micheál Martin, supported her for the position over the party’s candidate and incumbent Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl. Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that Fine Gael leader Simon Harris also recommended that his party’s TDs support Murphy for the role. Mr. Harris visited Aras an Uachtarain (the official residence of President Michael D Higgins) on Wednesday morning, where he submitted his resignation, though he will continue in his capacity until a new taoiseach is appointed. Proceedings in the Dáil concluded at approximately 18:30 local time. Earlier in the day, Peter Finnegan, the Clerk of the Dáil, read out the names of all 174 TDs. Subsequently, TDs elected a Ceann Comhairle through a secret ballot. Sinn Féin also put forward a motion to nominate its party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, as taoiseach, but it was rejected by a vote of 110 to 44. Micheál Martin, the leader of Fianna Fáil, whose party won the most seats, criticized the Sinn Féin motion, describing it as “grandstanding” and an “empty gesture.” He remarked, “We all know that no-one has the support yet to be elected as taoiseach today. There’s no new government available yet.” The outgoing speaker, Fianna Fáil’s Ó Fearghaíl, informed RTÉ that the role should not be part of government formation negotiations. Speaking on RTÉ’s Radio 1, Ó Fearghaíl stated that Martin had told him he viewed Murphy’s election as crucial for the establishment of a stable government. Addressing TDs after her election, Murphy affirmed that she “undertook to be fair, impartial, to be even-handed and even tempered.” Her message to the public was that she hoped to be “a reforming Ceann Comhairle, and make the operations of the house more relevant in terms of the way it affects you day to day.” Murphy also committed to improving her command of the Irish language “to a level that is commensurate with the office I now hold.”