OireachtasAnalysis

Why were the Independents so keen on the Ceann Comhairle job and how did Verona Murphy get it?

Murphy securing the support of the two big parties for her candidacy was not straightforward

Regional Group of Independents members Verona Murphy, the new Ceann Comhairle, and Tipperary TD Michael Lowry. Photograph: Maxwells
Regional Group of Independents members Verona Murphy, the new Ceann Comhairle, and Tipperary TD Michael Lowry. Photograph: Maxwells
Jennifer Bray's picture
Jennifer Bray
Wed Dec 18 2024 - 19:00

When it comes to political jobs there’s always intrigue, and even more so when the role comes with a €255,000 pay package and automatic re-election to the Dáil.

Securing the post of Ceann Comhairle for Wexford TD Verona Murphy was the first big ask of the Regional Group of Independents, who are now firmly eyeing up a stint supporting Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in government. How that deal was done – and why the group was so keen on that specific position – is the subject of much political chatter.

As the final numbers rolled in on the weekend of the general election count, and it became evident that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were very close to a majority, some Independent TDs were already exchanging phone calls about how best to band together as potential kingmakers.

From that emerged the nine-strong group who had all, at one stage or another, expressed an interest in joining coalition formation talks. Their first ask was for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil’s backing to put Murphy into the Ceann Comhairle’s chair.

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One question being asked in the corridors of Leinster House on Wednesday was why did the group want Murphy in that role rather than potentially securing an extra ministry?

Amid some speculation about personality clashes within the group, one source gave some insight into the thinking behind the move. With Murphy “off the pitch”, they said, there is now “one less ministry for everyone else to fight about”.

“If she had not been elected as Ceann Comhairle she would have been back in that room demanding a senior ministry.”

Sources more familiar with Murphy’s thinking say she believed the role to be a prestigious one and applied herself to winning it from an early stage. However, securing the support of the two big parties for her candidacy was not straightforward.

The first issue was an awkwardness with Fine Gael. Murphy was chosen by the party as its candidate for a November 2019 byelection in Wexford. While out canvassing with The Irish Times, she said Isis was “a big part of the migrant population”, a comment she later wholeheartedly apologised for.

[ Verona Murphy’s path to Ceann Comhairle role marked by controversy ]

Fine Gael distanced itself from Murphy, who finished third in the byelection, before deselecting her before the 2020 general election. At the time Simon Harris said Fine Gael’s decision to deselect her was “looking better by the moment”. Murphy shot back then, saying he was “one of the worst ministers for health” ever.

Newly elected TDs spoke about the excitement and emotion of attending their first day of the 34th Dáil at Leinster House. Video: Bryan O'Brien

Sources in Fine Gael said Harris was left with little choice in calling for his party to back Murphy this week. Realistically, they said, the leader had three options – support her becoming Ceann Comhairle, potentially work with her as a Minister or collapse talks with Independent TDs on forming a government. The first was the only one deemed vaguely palatable.

For Fianna Fáil the problem was different. Some TDs within the party fancied the role themselves, including outgoing ceann comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, who sought to take the role for a third time.

With uncertainty among the Regional Group of Independents about how Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil would proceed, Murphy is said to have hit the phones. One Fine Gael TD noted that they had a missed call from her over the weekend, and said some of their colleagues were also contacted.

In any event politicians are nothing if not practical when it comes to power, and with the backing of the two big parties the omens were good for Murphy, who topped the poll in the secret ballot on Ceann Comhairle with 76 votes and went on to secure the job on the third count. She will now receive a basic salary of €113,679, with an additional allowance of €141,834 available.

Naturally enough political talk has already shifted back to government formation. There are rumours that the Regional Group of Independents will now seek at least one senior ministry and two Minister of State roles. It is over these that the real infighting is likely to happen.