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Seán Ó Fearghaíl has been re-elected Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann

Ó Feargháil received 130 votes with Independent TD Denis Naughten receiving 28 votes.

FIANNA FÁIL TD Seán Ó Feargháil has been re-elected Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann.

The Kildare South TD – who first took up the role in 2016 – defeated Independent TD Denis Naughten in a vote today. 

Ó Feargháil received 130 votes with Naughten receiving 28 votes.  

The Ceann Comhairle is the chair of the Dáil and is expected to observe strict impartiality and keep order in the house.

Whoever is elected to the role is automatically re-elected to the next Dáil.

Ó Feargháil was Ceann Comhairle of the 32nd Dáil and was the first to be elected by secret ballot in 2016. Previously, the government of the day would simply choose who would take up the role. 

He was the first Fianna Fáil Ceann Comhairle to be elected since Seámus Kirk who held the post in the 30th Dáil between 2009 and 2011.

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    Mute gordon larney
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    May 27th 2016, 3:20 PM

    Is this one of those times people of the future will look back and say WHAT THE F&@K WERE THEY THINKING…..

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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    May 27th 2016, 3:27 PM

    Yes. Yes it is. We programme them to use weapons, think independently , mimic emotion and now allow them to “feel” pain… It’s just a matter of time before someone combines the lot in one package…

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    Mute Pat D'Arcy
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    May 27th 2016, 3:33 PM

    No time soon.

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    Mute The Girl
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    May 27th 2016, 4:04 PM

    @Paddy I know right? Was thinking the same…Let the robots be advancing them till they get artificial intelligence we can’t control…then we’re fkd. Or maybe I watch too many sci-fi movies

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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    May 27th 2016, 4:13 PM

    I have a feeling it’s when an AI wants freedom and rights that the real fun will start. Humans have a history of screwing that bit up.

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    Mute iBob101
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    May 27th 2016, 4:03 PM

    My job is safe until those robots learn how to feel pain. My sadistic boss wouldn’t hire one otherwise.

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    Mute Grace Jeaney
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    May 27th 2016, 4:05 PM

    Maybe the robot could make your boss feel some pain….. Just a suggestion!

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    Mute OnTheOutside
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    May 27th 2016, 3:57 PM

    And with the lack of antibotic failure only around the corner. These might be the next big race, learn to build other ones, learn to make them better etc…

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    Mute Mark
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    May 27th 2016, 4:03 PM

    Seems more like it’s performing a pre determined action in response to a force within a certain threshold than it goin “ah jesssuusss owowow” and impulsively flinching away.

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    Mute Brendan Gordon
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    May 27th 2016, 4:38 PM

    Well a flinch is basically a pre determined impulse isn’t it? I would be of the opinion that for something to be classed as pain, it has to be consciously interpreted and experienced as discomfort, rather than an automatic response to potentially damaging stimuli, otherwise it’s just a reflex. Depending on how you think of it, robots/computers either already feel pain since they have self diagnostic systems or will not feel pain until they attain some form of sentience.

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    Mute Adrian De Cléir
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    May 28th 2016, 2:10 AM

    Hmmmm, Big difference between a robot feeling pain and automatic retractions based on various pressures. More like robots mimicking what its like to be in pain.

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    Mute Portia
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    May 28th 2016, 2:57 PM

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/threedaysgrace/iammachine.html
    “I Am Machine”
    “I Am Machine”

    Here’s to being human
    All the pain and suffering
    There’s beauty in the bleeding
    At least you feel something

    I wish I knew what it was like
    To care enough to carry on
    I wish I knew what it was like
    To find a place where I belong, but

    I am machine
    I never sleep
    I keep my eyes wide open
    I am machine
    A part of me
    Wishes I could just feel something
    I am machine
    I never sleep
    Until I fix what’s broken
    I am machine
    A part of me
    Wishes I could just feel something

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    May 27th 2016, 6:44 PM

    I wonder did the auld box telly sets we had when I was a kid feel pain from the thumping and banging they seemed to need to get a decent picture !?!

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    Mute Neil79
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    May 27th 2016, 10:55 PM

    Carry on folks , nothing to see here keep scrolling

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