Carlow Kilkenny TD John McGuinness has been elected as the new Leas Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Eireann, coming out on top by 96 votes to 66 over Sinn Fein’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh in a secret ballot this afternoon.
Speaking earlier, both deputies emphasised the need for Irish to be better understood in the Dáil, following a row over Micheál Martin’s claim that Mary Lou McDonald was “ag insint bréige” last week.
The Fianna Fáil TD was first elected to the Dáil in 1997, and will now serve as Verona Murphy’s Deputy in the chamber.
Speaking to KCLR News, Deputy McGuinness expressed his gratitude towards the people of Carlow and Kilkenny, and noted that despite recent tumultuous scenes in the chamber, he has asked deputies to have respect for the chamber going forward.
“I think we’ve seen so far difficult times in the Dáil, and difficult exchanges, between members of all sides, government and opposition, and those crossfires in the heat of debate made it very difficult for the Ceann Comhairle to chair properly the Dáil proceedings.”
He continued by stating that “My ask today of the members is that they would be respectful of each other, show respect for the chair, they’ll have plenty of time to say whatever they wish to say once its in order, and there’s little or no need for the squabbling and the division, and the harsh rhetoric that’s been used in the last while.”
You can catch the full interview with KCLR News here:
