Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I of course wish to congratulate the successful candidate, Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher, and wish him well. I will do my utmost, as all of us in the House try to do, to help and co-operate with him in his duties as Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

On occasions like this one should always thank one's proposer and seconder, but the way the system works means it does not always work out that way. I want to thank those who voted for me, those who did not vote for me, whom I mentioned yesterday, those who would like to have voted for me and could not vote for me, and those who did vote for me and maybe did not like to do so. In the combination of all there emerged a result. Mind you, it was a close one, A Cheann Comhairle. It does not get much closer than that. I was privileged to have had an opportunity to contest the very important post. I again congratulate my fellow unsuccessful contestants, without whom it would have been a straight contest. Things might have been different or better. All of these things add to the sum of the total, all of which is very welcome. Comhghairdeas don Teachta Pat The Cope Gallagher.

See this speech in context