Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Déanaim comhghairdeas leat, a Cheann Comhairle. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat. On behalf of the Independent Alliance, I congratulate you and your family on winning this historic election on this historic day. It is the first time we have had a secret ballot on the election of a Ceann Comhairle. I congratulate you and wish you and your family all the best for the future. I also thank and commend our previous Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Seán Barrett, for the work he has done over the past five years during a very difficult time. We had many rows but he never personalised the issue and always handled it in a professional and impartial manner. I also commend and thank the other candidates today, namely, my friend and colleague Deputy Bernard Durkan as well as Deputies Maureen O'Sullivan, Andrew Doyle and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. They were all excellent candidates. We have all been talking about it over the past week or so and we knew they would have been up for the job. Again, I congratulate you for winning the election.

A Cheann Comhairle, as you said yourself during your introductory remarks, it is important to note, given we now have a new Dáil, many new Deputies and fresh energy in the Chamber, that now is the time to change the whole system. There is an opportunity for all of us, across different parties, to work together in the national interest. We in the Independent Alliance will do that. We have a vision for change. We have a vision to do something practical to help our people. I wish everyone well and, once again, congratulate the Ceann Comhairle.

See this speech in context