By Dan Walsh
Wexford Independent TD Verona Murphy has been elected Ceann Comhairle of the 34th Dáil and becomes the first woman ever to hold the office.
She will also chair the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, overseeing the running of Leinster House and the Dáil and the Seanad.
Speaking in the Dáil earlier, Ms Murphy said: “If you choose to elect me as the first female Ceann Comhairle in the State, it will signify a very diverse, inclusive and forward-looking 34th Dáil.
“If elected, I will execute the office of Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann without fear or favour,” she promised.
On the first count Ms Murphy was ahead with 76 votes but got no transfers when the 21 votes for Fianna Fáil’s John McGuinness were distributed on the second count.
At that stage Aengus Ó Snodaigh of Sinn Féin was on 54 votes and Mr Ó Fearghaíl was on 42. Ms Murphy picked up 13 votes from Mr Ó Fearghaíl on the third count, which put her over the line.
Ms Murphy’s selection is endorsed by the leaders of both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and paves the way for a new government comprising Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Regional Independent Group.
Prior to entering politics, Ms Murphy, who is a native of Ramsgrange, was a businesswoman, haulage company owner and representative for the haulage industry.
She was elected president of the Irish Road Haulage Association in 2015 and led that organisation as she took her first foray into politics in 2019.
Verona Murphy ran for Fine Gael in the 2019 Wexford by-election
Mick Wallace’s election to the European Parliament caused a by-election in Wexford that year and Fine Gael announced Ms Murphy would be the party’s candidate.
However, her campaign was soon engulfed in controversy over comments she made about migrants and Islamic State, Fine Gael became uncomfortable with its candidate’s views, party leader Leo Varadkar avoided campaigning with her and she ultimately failed to get elected.
She was subsequently deselected by Fine Gael from running in the 2020 General Election, and ran as an Independent, taking a seat in the then five-seat constituency.
Last month she topped the poll in the 2024 General Election for the new four-seat Wexford constituency.
As Ceann Comhairle, her seat is assured after the next election as the holder of the office is automatically returned to the Dáil.
She is also set to get a massive pay increase on top of her existing TD salary.
TDs earn €113,680 a year but her new position attracts an additional €141,513 annually, bringing her salary to €255,000 for as long as she stays in the job. The pay packet exceeds that of the Taoiseach by €12,000. There is also an additional perk of a State car and driver.
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