Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on her position and Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl on the great work he did in his time in the Chair.

I thank everyone in County Limerick who voted for me and entrusted me to serve in the Thirty-fourth Dáil. I thank all the canvassers, all the office staff, all my family and all my friends who entrusted me to represent them in Limerick and the rest of the country.

I am a numbers person and looked at the vote result on the election of the Ceann Comhairle. I have been listening to the media and social media saying for the past several weeks that the next Government would include Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independents, yet when you look at the numbers today you see they do not stack up. Eighty-nine voted for the Ceann Comhairle, who was backed by the former Government parties, but if you take out the vote of the Ceann Comhairle, that amounts to 88. When the two Fianna Fáil Members were taken out, it left Sinn Féin and Independents beaten by a majority of only one. Are there defectors already in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael? It shows only 88 out of a possible how many. It is something to think about over the Christmas. I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

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