FF and FG parliamentary parties agree to back Independent Verona Murphy as Ceann Comhairle

FIANNA FÁIL’S PARLIAMENTARY party and Fine Gael’s have both agreed to formally support Independent TD Verona Murphy’s candidacy as Ceann Comhairle in tomorrow’s vote.

The proposal was put forward by Fianna Fáil party leader Micheál Martin at a meeting of the parliamentary party this afternoon and later this evening by Simon Harris at Fine Gael’s meeting.

In a statement this evening a spokesperson for Fine Gael said Simon Harris made the recommendation to support Murphy in order to support and progress overall government formation talks between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Regional Group of Independents.

Nominations for the position closed at 6pm this evening. 

Outgoing Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl is seeking re-election, competing against fellow Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness, Independent TD Verona Murphy and Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh. 

The Journal understands there was some, but not much dissent at the Fianna Fáil meeting.

Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne told the meeting that evidence is needed to show that Murphy can be a fair and impartial Ceanna Comhairle.

It is understood that Fianna Fáil TD Michael Moynihan informed the meeting that he will not be putting himself forward as a candidate after much speculation.

Ó Fearghail was not in attendance at the meeting.

One party source told The Journal that they expect Fianna Fáil TDs will back Verona Murphy, despite the vote being a secret ballot. 

“People will stomach it,” the source said, adding that party members understand the numbers needed to form a government and that this more than likely includes Independents. 

It is understood members of both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can see the bigger picture that it will bolster their majority if an Independent takes the chair, with it likely to result in an additional junior ministry up for grabs. 

It is believed that the Regional Independents might forgo a junior ministry if Verona Murphy is successful in taking the Ceann Comhairle seat. 

The Ceann Comhairle is essentially the chairperson of the Dáil and has responsibility for keeping order among TDs while the Dáil is in session. 

The position is filled via a secret ballot of TDs at the start of every Dáil term and the person who is elected to the position is then automatically guaranteed re-election as a TD in the following election. 

Since 2016, Fianna Fáil’s Seán Ó Fearghail has been Ceann Comhairle and as such was automatically returned as a TD in Kildare South in this year’s general election. 

Despite previously saying he did not want to seek a third term in the role, it was confirmed last week that Ó Fearghail intends to run again.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Claire Byrne programme this morning, Ó Feargháil said that the nomination of Ceann Comhairle forming part of government formation talks is wrong and that it should not be used as a bargaining chip. 

He said Fianna Fáil party leader Micheál Martin rang him last night ahead of today’s Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting and relayed to him that Fianna Fáil is “making progress” in its discussions with the Regional Independents’ technical group and confirmed that at today’s meeting he would be recommending a vote for Independent Verona Murphy. 

Ó Feargháil said that Martin’s argument was that he wants to secure a government that will be stable for the next five years and that he saw the nomination of Verona Murphy as Ceann Comhairle as “critical” to that. 

When asked if this means he will step aside and away from the Ceann Comhairle nomination process, Ó Feargháil said no and that he asked what Fine Gael plans to do. 

He said Martin could not tell him exactly what they are going to do. 

Ó Feargháil said he has “no desire to in any way disrupt or delay the formation of a stable government”. 

Ó Feargháil said he would “happily withdraw but for the fact if I don’t defend the principle of the primacy of the Dáil and the right of the members to elect, in an unfettered way, whomsoever they please, and if I don’t stand up against this bartering for position which is going on then who will?”

He added: “This is not about personality, this is about principle.”

Ó Feargháil said he would “rather walk on a bed of coal than have to deal with this situation”, adding that he is not angry that the position is being used as a bargaining chip “just disappointed”. 

Speaking to The Journal this afternoon, one Fianna Fáil TD who was at today’s meeting said Ó Feargháil’s position is “pathetic”.

“Does he not realise that when he got it there was an internal vote in Fianna Fáil so he came with the full backing of the Fianna Fáil party?” the asked.

Government formation talks  

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are working towards having a government formed by 22 January, however, senior sources state the time frame is “tight”. 

Government formation talks are continuing this week, with the first sitting of the 34th Dáil taking place tomorrow. 

Talks among all parties are due to wrap up on Friday or Monday for the Christmas period, with politicians expected to take time off over the the holiday period. 

It is expected that government formation talks could potentially resume on 6 January, though some speculate there could be meetings held before the new year also.

The first item on the agenda for Wednesday’s Dáil schedule will be electing a new Ceann Comhairle. 

If elected, Independent TD for Wexford, Verona Murphy would be the first woman to hold the position if elected.

Sinn Féin has put forward TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh for the Ceann Comhairle position. 

A senior Fine Gael source said there wouldn’t be too many “rebels” in the party that would go against the idea of Murphy taking the position, with the majority likely back her. 

As mentioned, the vote is by secret ballot, meaning there is little the party leadership can do to whip members.

If both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil back Murphy, she would garner over 86 votes, but if Fianna Fáil membership does not, her path to the role could be an uphill battle.

However, there is speculation that Ó Snodaigh might be successful, if he can attract enough votes from the opposition benches. This would also be dependent on what way the Labour Party and the Social Democrats might vote. Both parties are not recommending that their TDs vote for a particular candidate.

Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, TD Gary Gannon said he would like to see a speaker of the Irish language get the job, which could indicate that Ó Snodaigh could be the preferred option.  

While much of the government formation talks are focused on policy issues right now, other aspects such as ministries and the carve up of Cabinet positions will also have to be decided upon. 

The Journal reported last week that the rotating Taoiseach model is now a certainty however, the period in which Martin and Harris will get as Taoiseach is yet to be decided.

It is understood that there will be a significant number of changes when it comes to departments in the next government, with sources indicating that the departments previously held by Green Party members could be carved up and distributed.  

It is likely that Children and Disability could form one department, with questions being raised as to where the Department of Tourism might fit, in terms of tacking it on to another ministry.

Similarly, discussions are be had about whether the policy remit of Energy should be tacked on to the Department of Enterprise. 

Immigration, as has been suggested previously, will be taken away from the Department of Equality, and likely to go to the new Department of Home Affairs or Justice. It is understood there is a level of nervousness about splitting the Department of Justice, with sources stating that the Garda Commissioner will need to have just one point minister to report to, rather than two.