SENATOR Liam Cosgrave of Fine Gael has been elected Cathaoirleach of the Seanad to replace the late Mr Liam Naughten.

Son of the former Taoiseach, Mr Liam Cosgrave, he yesterday defeated the Fianna Fail candidate, Senator Brian Mullooly, by 31 votes to 28.

He was supported by three independent senators, Mr David Norris, Dr Mary Henry and Prof Joe Lee. The other two independent senators, Mr Feargal Quinn and Mr Joe O'Toole, voted with Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats against the Government nominee.

Aged 40 and a TD for Dun Laoghaire between 1981 and 1987, Senator Cosgrave is a grandson of William T. Cosgrave. He was educated at Castleknock College and later studied law at the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.