Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a ghlacadh leat tar éis duit a bheith tofa mar Cheann Comhairle. Is é seo an chéad uair ó bunaíodh an Stát gur toghadh Ceann Comhairle cosúil leat le vóta rúnda neamhspleách ó chuile Theachta atá anseo. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil cumhacht níos difriúla agat mar Cheann Comhairle ná mar a bhí ag duine ar bith eile sa ról sin riamh. Tréaslaím leat as ucht é sin. Agus tú a bheith tofa mar Cheann Comhairle, labhair tú faoi na hiarrthóirí eile a bhí san fheachtas seo. Tá mé thar a bheith buíoch díot, a Cheann Comhairle, go mbeidh tú mar stiúrthóir ar choiste uile-pháirtí na Dála ar fad, agus iadsan gan pháirtí san áireamh, a dhéanfaidh scrúdú ar an athrú gnó gur féidir linn cur i bhfeidhm anseo sa Dáil, i dtreo is go mbeidh glacadh níos doimhne ag chuile Theachta ó thaobh stiúiriú na Dála, ó thaobh gnó na Dála, ó thaobh díospóireachta sa Dáil aguis ó thaobh an dualgais a bheidh ar chuile dhuine as seo amach glacadh leis an obair atá ar siúl anseo.

It is really important in a changed political landscape that you are the first Ceann Comhairle since the foundation of the State to draw your authority from the vote by secret ballot of all the Members of this Chamber. In itself, that is an historic change in what is now an historic and changed landscape. I value greatly the fact that the Members of the House agree that you should chair and direct, with your independence and your voted authority, the standing committee that can deal with the many queries and proposals that parties and independent Deputies have in regard to the way in which we do our business here. I assure the Ceann Comhairle that in so far as the Government and the Government Members are concerned, we will comply with his rulings. We will work with you as Ceann Comhairle and will work diligently in what is a changed political landscape to make the business of the House far more meaningful and engaging but also to develop and deliver a far more responsible accountability on all the Members in the work we must do here. Congratulations again, a Sheáin, a chara; tá tú ann le fada an lá. Good luck to you in your term as Ceann Comhairle. I hope it is all as calm, benign, serene and exciting as it is here today. I wish you, your wife and family good fortune in the time ahead.

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