Ceann Comhairle

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Republic of Ireland

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The Ceann Comhairle1 is the speaker of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. The person who holds the position is elected by members of the Dáil from among their number in the first session after each general election. The current Ceann Comhairle is Dr. Rory O'Hanlon, TD, Deputy for Cavan-Monaghan.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The Ceann Comhairle is expected to observe strict impartiality. Despite this, a government usually tries to select one of its own for the position, if its numbers allow. In order to protect the neutrality of the chair, the Irish constitution provides that an incumbent Ceann Comhairle does not seek re-election as a TD (member of the Dáil) but rather is deemed automatically to have been re-elected by their constituency at a general election, unless they are retiring2. As a consequence, the constituency that an incumbent Ceann Comhairle theoretically represents returns one less TD in a general election than its usual entitlement. The Ceann Comhairle does not vote except in the event of a tie. In this event they generally vote in accordance with the parliamentary conventions relating to the Speaker of the British House of Commons. The Ceann Comhairle is the sole judge of order in the house and has a number of special functions. Specifically, the Ceann Comhairle

  • Calls on members to speak. All speeches must be addressed to the Ceann Comhairle.
  • Puts such questions to the house and supervises and declares the results of divisions.
  • Has authority to suppress disorder. To ensure obedience to his rulings the Ceann Comhairle may order members to withdraw from the Dáil or suspend an individual from the House for a period. In the case of great disorder the Ceann Comhairle can suspend or adjourn the house.
  • Rings a bell when deputies are out of order.

[edit] History

The position of Ceann Comhairle is as old as the Dáil, which was first established as an extra-legal parliament in 1919. The first Ceann Comhairle was Cathal Brugha, who served for only one day, presiding over the house's symbolic first meeting, before leaving the post to become Príomh Aire (prime minister). The office was continued under the 1922-1937 Irish Free State, the constitution of which referred to the office-holder as the "Chairman of Dáil Éireann". The practice of automatically re-electing the Ceann Comhairle in a general election was introduced by a constitutional amendment in 1927. For a brief period from 1936 to 1937, following the abolition of the office of Governor-General, certain of the Governor-General's functions were transferred to the Ceann Comhairle, who was assigned the role of signing bills into law and convening and dissolving the Dáil. The position of Ceann Comhairle was retained when the Constitution of Ireland was adopted in 1937, as was the practice of automatic re-election.

[edit] List of office-holders

# Name Took Office Left Office Party
1. Cathal Brugha January 21, 1919 Sinn Féin
2. Count Plunkett January 22, 1919 Sinn Féin
3. Seán T. O'Kelly January 22, 1919 August 16, 1921 Sinn Féin
4. Eoin MacNeill August 16, 1921 September 9, 1922 Pro-Treaty
Sinn Féin
5. Michael Hayes September 8, 1922 March 9, 1932 Cumann na nGaedhael
6. Frank Fahy March 9, 1932 June 13, 1951 Fianna Fáil
7. Patrick Hogan June 13, 1951 November 14, 1967 Labour Party
8. Cormac Breslin November 14, 1967 March 14, 1973 Fianna Fáil
9. Seán Treacy
(1st time)		 March 14, 1973 July 5, 1977 Labour Party
10. Joseph Brennan July 5, 1977 July 13, 1980 Fianna Fáil
11. Pádraig Faulkner October 15, 1980 June 30, 1981 Fianna Fáil
12. John O'Connell June 30, 1981 December 14, 1982 Labour Party
13. Tom Fitzpatrick December 14, 1982 March 10, 1987 Fine Gael
Seán Treacy
(2nd time)		 March 10, 1987 June 26, 1997 Labour Party
14. Séamus Pattison June 26, 1997 June 6, 2002 Labour Party
15. Rory O'Hanlon June 6, 2002 Current Incumbent Fianna Fáil

[edit] Footnotes

  1. Ceann Comhairle (IPA pronunciation: /kʲɑːn ˈkoːrʎə/). is Irish for "head of the council". The plural form is Cinn Comhairlí.
  2. Article 16.6 of the constitution requires that "provision shall be made by law" such that the Ceann Comhairle "be deemed without any actual election to be elected a member of Dáil Éireann". The current law making such provision is the Electoral Act, 1992.
  3. Count Plunkett briefly chaired the Dáil on 22 January 1919. Seán T. O'Kelly was elected Ceann Comhairle later in the same day.

[edit] Current Ceann Comhairle/Leas-Cheann Comhairle

[edit] See also

[edit] External link


The Irish Free State
(1922-1937)

Anglo-Irish Treaty | Provisional Government | Constitution of the Irish Free State | Statute of Westminster | Great Seal of the Irish Free State | Monarchy in the Irish Free State

Executive
King of Ireland | Governor-General | President of the Executive Council | Vice-President of the Executive Council | Executive Council | Extern Minister | Ministers and Secretaries Act | His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State

Legislative:
 Oireachtas of Saorstát Éireann (made up of the King of Ireland, Dáil Éireann & Seanad Éireann) |
Royal Assent | Ceann Comhairle | Cathaoirleach | Oath of Allegiance | Governor-General's Address to the Oireachtas

Judiciary
Supreme Court | High Court | Chief Justice | Courts of Justice Act, 1924

Other topics: General elections: 1922 | 1923 | 1927 (June) | 1927 (Sept) 1932 | 1933 | 1937
See also: External Relations Act | Executive Powers (Consequential Provisions) Act | Constitution (Amendment No. 27) Act
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