Election of Deputy Brendan Howlin as Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
Deputy Brendan Howlin was elected to the Office of Leas-Cheann Comhairle on 26 th June 2007. On being elected Deputy Howlin stated “I am very grateful to the House and am deeply honoured to be elected to the office of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. As was said kindly by those who supported me, I have a deep respect for the House and every Member who goes through the electoral process to get here. I look forward to making the declaration required of me when I take the Chair for the first time. I pledge to the House to do all I can to advance the rights and privileges of Members, who are democratically elected to the House, and to uphold the tradition and dignity of the House in all that I do in their name.”
Role of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
The Leas-Cheann Conhairle holds office as the Deputy Chairman of Dáil Éireann under Article 15.9.1 of the Constitution. The expression “Leas-Cheaann Comhairle” is defined by Standing Order 5 as the member elected by Dáil Éireann to be Deputy Chairman of Dáil Éireann. In the absence of the Ceann Comhairle the Leas-Cheann Comhairle deputises and performs the duties and exercises the authority of the Cheann Comhairle in Dáil proceedings as follows:
- Ensuring that the Standing Orders are complied with; ruling on their interpretation where a dispute arises; ensuring that they are upheld and, if not, dealing with disorderly members;
- Presiding over debates and ensuring that members’ speeches are relevant to the matter under discussion;
- Ensuring that business is conducted in an orderly and impartial manner; and
- Dealing with discipline.
In this role it is the privilege and duty of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to protect, on behalf of the House, the right of its individual Members and to ensure that the business of Parliament is progressed in an orderly and dignified way befitting the House in its role, both as a constituent part of the legislature and as the directly elected Assembly to which the government in constitutionally accountable. When in the chair, as the impartial presiding member, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle cannot take one side over the other.
Official positions held by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in the absence of the Cheann Comhairle:
In the official absence of the Ceann Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle deputises and acts as follows:
- Under the Constitution as an ex-officio member of the Presidential Commission which acts in the absence of the President;
- Under Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann as:
- An ex-officio Chairman of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges;
- As Chairman of the Executive of the Inter-Parliamentary Union which maintains and nutures contacts between Parliaments all over the world.
- Under statute as an ex-officio Chairman/Member of Statutory Bodies:
- as a member of the appeal board in relation to the registration of political parties (Electoral Act, 1997) and a member of the appeal board to hear appeals in relation to registration of nominating bodies for the Seanad election – Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947;
- as a member of the Standards in Public Office Commission.
- In the EU as an ex-officio Member of the Presidents (Speakers) of Parliament of the E.U.
Independence of Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
The independence and impartiality of the Office of Leas-Cheann Comhairle is recognised in a number of ways:
- A Minister or Minister of State cannot hold the Office of Leas-Cheann Comhairle;
- In the absence of the Ceann-Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is ex-officio a member of the Presidential Commission, which acts as President in the absence of the President who is also required to be above politics;
- The Ceann Comhairle or Leas-Cheann Comhairle when presiding may not make a speech in the Dáil or cast a deliberative vote on any matter and may exercise a casting vote only i.e where there is an equality of votes.
The independence and impartiality of the Office of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is enhanced by the requirement, under Standing Order 9, that the incoming Leas-Cheann Comhairle, on assuming Office, makes a declaration to that end.
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