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Why does the Regional Group of Independents want the ceann comhairle position?

Nomination of Verona Murphy for the key role may be part of an elaborate plan by the Independents to seek ministerial positions once a government is formed

Tubridy Kelly Verona Murphy PAC
The Regional Group of Independent TDs has nominated Wexford deputy Verona Murphy to be ceann comhairle, perhaps to bolster its bargaining chips when it sits down to thrash out a government deal in earnest.
Cormac McQuinn's picture
Cormac McQuinn Political Correspondent
Mon Dec 16 2024 - 16:47

The Regional Group of Independent TDs last week nominated Wexford deputy Verona Murphy to be ceann comhairle.

In announcing Ms Murphy’s bid, the group said it had the potential to be “historic” as she would be the first woman to hold the role.

Aside from this, why do the Independents want the prestigious role and is it all tied up in the government-formation process?

[ Independents’ demands for government include wishlist on health and housing ]

The ceann comhairle chairs Dáil debates as well as being heavily involved in committees that set Dáil schedules and the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission which runs Leinster House.

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They also officiate during events and special occasions and there is a diplomacy role in terms of contacts with parliaments abroad and visits involving foreign dignitaries.

It comes with pay of in excess of €255,000 and the holder of the office is automatically re-elected at the next general election.

Meanwhile, the leas-cheann comhairle role, which has pay of €175,000, will not be voted on until the new year.

Members of the Regional Group did not respond to efforts from The Irish Times to get more information on why it is seeking the ceann comhairle job for Ms Murphy.

The nine-strong group is widely seen as the most likely source of Dáil numbers to help Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael get to a Dáil majority as government-formation efforts continue.

[ Regional Independents nominate Verona Murphy for ceann comhairle, seeking support of FF and FG ]

The group’s statement last week said its point man for any talks with the two big parties, Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry, had been in contact with the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael requesting their parties’ support for Ms Murphy’s election.

So, on the face of it, her nomination is implicitly linked to overnment formation.

However, Wednesday’s election for the role of ceann comhairle will be by secret ballot, so even if Micheál Martin and Simon Harris were to instruct their TDs to vote for Ms Murphy, they could not guarantee that all of them will.

Mr Harris has already said Fine Gael will not impose a whip on its TDs in the vote, though it is likely to “try and take a consensus-type approach in terms of how we decide to go about it”.

Up to three Fianna Fáil TDs are also seeking the ceann comhairle role – the outgoing holder of the office Seán Ó Fearghaíl, veteran deputy John McGuinness, and, possibly, Michael Moynihan.

[ Analysis: How do you herd the Independents into a government formation deal? ]

This casts significant doubt on whether Fianna Fáil’s deputies could be corralled to vote for Ms Murphy.

So why would the Regional Group ask Mr Martin and Mr Harris for something that is not really within their gift?

Perhaps one reason, should Ms Murphy be unsuccessful in her bid to be elected as ceann comhairle, is to bolster the Regional Group’s store of bargaining chips when it sits down to thrash out a government deal in earnest.

A failure by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs to back her could potentially be deployed by the Independents as part of an argument as to why some of their number should get ministerial jobs in the next government.