The Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil, Rory O'Hanlon, has said he does not intend retiring at the general election next year, and will exercise his right to be automatically returned to the Dáil.
Mr O'Hanlon dismissed suggestions that he might retire before the end of the Dáil term, a move that would have created a useful vacancy for the Government parties.
In an interview with RTÉ's The Week In Politics, Mr O'Hanlon said he "couldn't see the Taoiseach or any other member of the Government approaching me on that basis" because they would recognise the constitutional position of his office, which had to be "seen to be totally outside party politics".
"There are only three ways the Ceann Comhairle can go," he said. "That the Ceann Comhairle would resign. I've no notion of resigning. That the Ceann Comhairle would be impeached by the members of the House. I don't see any sign of that happening. And that the man above might decide to take you out of it. And I've no control over that."
Under the Constitution, the Ceann Comhairle is returned to the Dáil automatically unless the incumbent decides to retire. Mr O'Hanlon said he intended to sit in the next Dáil.
Mr O'Hanlon, who will be 72 next year, said he still had "a lot to offer the Dáil" and believed a mix of different ages was good for the Oireachtas.
He also said the position of Ceann Comhairle was a lonely one as he had cut off political friendships and other associations, both inside and outside the Dáil, to maintain his political neutrality.
"You have to be totally neutral and be seen to be totally neutral," he said. "I have to disassociate myself totally from party politics, which means I live very much on my own in Leinster House."
This was "very difficult, but as regards the work as Ceann Comhairle I must say I enjoy it as a challenge".