Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Ba mhaith liomsa cuidiú leis an rún faoi ainm Ruairí Quinn a mholadh mar ainm don Ceann Comhairle.

The convention for many years was that the House would first consider the ability of the outgoing Ceann Comhairle to continue in office given his free pass in terms of re-election. However, that convention was broken by Fianna Fáil in 1973 when the late Deputy Cormac Breslin was withdrawn from office in order to reduce the numbers of the Fine Gael-Labour coalition then seeking office. While we had our jousts with Deputy Rory O'Hanlon in the 29th Dáil, I pay tribute to him on the manner in which he conducted his business nationally and internationally on behalf of this House.

It gives me particular pleasure to second Deputy Rabbitte's nomination of Deputy Ruairí Quinn for the office of Ceann Comhairle. I served for a short period as junior minister with Deputy Quinn when Minister for Labour during the 1980s. He has given outstanding service to the Oireachtas and to the Irish public as a junior and senior Minister, as Leader of the Labour Party and as a parliamentarian. I agree that it is only right and proper that there be a contest in this regard and that the House should decide on the merits of the candidates put forward. I have great pleasure in formally seconding Deputy Ruairí Quinn's nomination as Ceann Comhairle of the 30th Dáil.

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