John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A Chléirigh agus a chairde, ar an gcéad dul síos, is mór an onóir é dom gur éirigh liom ainmniúchán do phost an Cheann Comhairle a fháil. Gabhaim buíochas dóibh siúd a thug an t-ainmniúchán dom. Gabhaim míle buíochas freisin do gach feisire a bhí sásta labhairt nuair a bhí mo chanbhasáil ar siúl. Molaim an sárobair a rinne na Teachtaí Seán Ó Fearghaíl agus Catherine Connolly. Gabhaim buíochas leo.

I stand here as a candidate for the position of Ceann Comhairle. I have the greatest respect for that office and for the democratic processes within this House. I know there are two sets of opinions here. There is the view that political parties can nominate and suggest to their members how to vote and, in a way, control the outcome. I have a different view which dates back to 2016, when it was decided that the Ceann Comhairle could be nominated by seven Members and the vote would be conducted by secret ballot. I have served since 1997. I have been Minister of State for trade and commerce, Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts and, more recently, Chairman of the finance committee. In my work on those committees I found that you achieve best by co-operating with the members and by working as one to achieve an end, whatever that end might be.

During the course of the Committee of Public Accounts, many harsh decisions had to be made in respect of how we conduct our business, the election of the Chair and so on. I was there for history to be made when Shane Ross contested against me. Unusually, it fell to the Opposition to fill that Chair, but there was a contest. In working together, that committee saw the resolution to problems that were faced by the likes of Maurice McCabe. The committee saw a resolution, or part of a resolution, to an issue relating to the Grace case, and to the 47 others who were affected by sexual, physical and financial abuse. In more recent times, the finance committee came together to deal with matters such as vulture funds and the tracker mortgage issue, where we were told in the beginning it was 3,000 cases and it turned out to be 50,000-plus cases. All of that work was achieved not by me; it was achieved by all of the members of each of those committees working together to achieve what was best in the interest of the State and in the interest of the individuals concerned. I am saying this to the House today because I believe what is best for the Members of this House is to work together to first ensure you have a Parliament here that will function in your interests. If it functions in your interests, it will, therefore, function in the interests of the people you represent.

Through my years of public service, I have seen where the Dáil Chamber can often be sidelined and I have seen where Members can often be sidelined. Those who are in Government parties are often referred to as being part of the Government but actually there are times when the Government can be just the Cabinet and there are times when the Government can be just the leaders of the groups in that coalition. Because of that, I believe this House has to exercise its strength and its caution around all of the changes that have occurred in politics over that time.

I ask Members as individuals of this Parliament to consider the nominees before you today, protect the interests of this House and the interest of democracy, and elect the best person you see fit to hold the position of Ceann Comhairle to defend your interests and the interests of the people we represent. The last general election told us that we need to build trust with the citizens of this country. We need to restore that trust. I believe the first step in the restoration of that trust is the election of our Ceann Comhairle to reinforce the changes in our democratic structures in the interests of the people we represent and to ensure we work together to deliver for our citizens, keep the Government accountable to this House, ensure transparency and ensure the Government keeps its people safe.

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