Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is onóir agus is pribhléid é domsa go bhfuil mé ainmnithe anseo inniu do phost an Leas-Chinn Chomhairle don Dara Dáil Déag is Fiche. Tá taithí fada agamsa sa Teach seo. Ar ndóigh, tá mé ag dul ar ais go dtí 1991 nuair a toghadh mé don chéad uair. Bhí mé iontach óg ag an am sin. Is é seo an naoiú téarma domsa anseo. Tá an-thaithí agam, mar a dúirt mé. Feasta, chaith mé tréimhse réasúnta fada i bParlaimint na hEorpa, áit a bhfuair mé taithí agus tuiscint idirnáisiúnta.

Nuair a bhí mé i bParlaimint na hEorpa, ceapadh mé - b'fhéidir mach bhfuil fhios ag mórán daoine é seo - mar chathaoirleach ar an toscaireacht idir Parlaimint na hEorpa, an EEA, European Economic Area, agus an EFDA, European Free Trade Association. Bhí mé mar chathaoirleach ar sin ar feadh cúig bliana ag pléigh leis an Íoslainn, an Iorua, an Eilvéis agus Lichtinstéin. Tá taithí agam maidir le sin. Amach anseo, b'fhéidir go mbeidh an EFDA agus an EEA tábhachtach dár gcomharsan béal dorais. Fuair mé eolas forleathan ar chursaí idirnáisiúnta ansin. B'fhéidir ceann de na postanna is tábhachtaí a bhí agam riamh ná nuair a bhí mé mar chathaoirleach ar Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall na blianta ó shin.

Tá tuiscint agamsa ó thaobh na mBuan-Orduithe, nó na Standing Orders, agus ar ndóigh ó thaobh na leasuithe a thugamar go léir isteach sa Teach seo le déanaí. Le bhur tacaíocht - tá sé sin fíor-thábhachtach - déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall na rialacha agus na Buan-Orduithe a chur i bhfeidhm go cothrom, go féaráilte agus go cruinn. I mo shaol poiblí, agus tá mé sa saol poiblí ó 1979, bhí sé mar pholasaí agamsa polasaí doras oscailte a bheith agam. Beidh mé breá sásta cuidiú libh, beidh mé breá sásta éisteacht libh agus beidh an polasaí doras oscailte sin agam. Beidh mé breá sásta labhairt agus éisteacht le Teachta Dála ar bith.

It is a great honour and privilege for me to have been nominated to contest the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the Thirty-Second Dáil. I respect and appreciate the confidence that has been placed in me in receiving my nomination.

This is my ninth term as a Member of Dáil Éireann, having been elected first in 1981 and then at every general election that I have stood in since. Over those years I have gained considerable experience of the workings of this House. I have also served three terms as a member of the European Parliament and, of course, gained considerable experience there. As a member of the European Parliament, I am honoured to have chaired its delegation to the EEA and EFTA countries, Lichtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Sweden.

During my terms as a Member of this House, I have had excellent working relationships with all sides and all Members. I believe I can say categorically that I seldom got involved in any acrimony and I do not think I ever intentionally insulted any Member of this House. It is with this respect and appreciation for other Members that I will hope to guide the business of the House, if elected, and carry out my functions in a fair manner. I fully appreciate that the business of the Dáil should be carried out in a dignified manner and, if I am elected, I will do my utmost to fulfil that role, with the co-operation of Deputies, and to work closely with the Ceann Comhairle. I pledge, if elected, to be fair, understanding, balanced and accessible to all Deputies. I will take an open-door approach, mar a dúirt mé i nGaeilge. I am not canvassing for others but I believe that if any of the four is selected and elected in the House tomorrow, he will make a good Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I believe, however, that I have gained the requisite experience over the years and I would greatly appreciate Deputies' votes, whatever the preference may be.

While wishing the other candidates well, let me in particular send my good wishes to Deputy Seán Crowe, with whom I have served here for many years, and wish him a speedy recovery. Mar fhocal scoir, geallaim do na Teachtaí go mbeidh mé cothrom sna gnóthaí a bheidh á réachtáil sa Teach seo.

See this speech in context