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Seán Ó Fearghaíl

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Seán Ó Fearghaíl
TD
Ó Fearghaíl in 2020
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office
10 March 2016 – 18 December 2024
Deputy
Preceded bySeán Barrett
Succeeded byVerona Murphy
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 2002
ConstituencyKildare South
Senator
In office
2 June 2000 – 17 May 2002
ConstituencyAgricultural Panel
Personal details
Born (1960-04-17) 17 April 1960 (age 64)
Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
Spouse
Mary Clare Meaney
​
(m. 1997)​
Children4
Alma materDublin City University
Ó Fearghaíl's constituency office, Kildare

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (pronounced [ˈʃaːn̪ˠ oː ˈfʲaɾˠiːlʲ]; born 17 April 1960) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare South constituency since 2002. He served as the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from March 2016 to December 2024. He was a Senator for the Agricultural Panel from 2000 to 2002.[1]

Life and career

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Ó Fearghaíl comes from a farming background, and previously worked for Dublin Corporation. He was elected as a member of Kildare County Council in 1985. He first stood for election to Dáil Éireann in the Kildare constituency at the 1987 general election, but was unsuccessful.[2] He was unsuccessful again at the 1989 general election.

After further defeats at the 1992 and 1997 general elections, he stood for Seanad Éireann in 1997, as a candidate before the Agricultural Panel, but he was again unsuccessful in seeking election. He won a seat in the 21st Seanad following a by-election held in June 2000, after the death of Senator Patrick McGowan.[3]

Ó Fearghaíl won a Dáil seat on his fifth attempt following the 2002 general election, when he defeated the sitting Fine Gael TD Alan Dukes.[2] At the 2007 general election, he topped the poll and was elected on the first count. He was re-elected at the 2011 general election and at the 2016 general election.

He was the Fianna Fáil party whip and Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade from April 2011 to July 2012. In July 2012, he was appointed as Spokesperson on Constitutional Reform, Arts and Culture, and Defence, while retaining the post of party whip. Ó Fearghaíl sent Éamon Ó Cuív a letter gagging him during the European Fiscal Compact referendum campaign, after Ó Cuív expressed his own opinion of the Compact against the party's wishes.[4]

He was elected as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, by its members, at the first sitting of the 32nd Dáil on 10 March 2016.[5] This was the first time the position was filled by secret ballot. He was re-elected to the position at the first sitting of the 33rd Dáil on 20 February 2020.[6][7]

On 22 November 2021, Ó Fearghaíl began self-isolating and working from home after testing positive for COVID-19. Leas-Cheann Comhairle Catherine Connolly took over his duties.[8]

In May 2024, Ó Fearghaíl convened the Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life, chaired by former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan.[9][10]

At the 2024 general election, Ó Fearghaíl exercised his right of automatic election as outgoing Ceann Comhairle. Before the election, he indicated that he would not seek re-election as Ceann Comhairle, and would return to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.[11] After the election, it was reported that he was considering a third term.[12] He stood at the 2024 Ceann Comhairle election but was not elected.[13]

Support for the People's Republic of China

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In his role as Ceann Comhairle, Ó Fearghaíl has been a vocal supporter of Chinese Government policy and increasing ties between Ireland and China. [14] In 2018, he warned Teachtaí Dála and Senators that contact with Taiwan would "offend the Chinese government", and could damage Ireland's business and diplomatic relationship with China.[15] Accusations of lobbying the Irish Government and political parties on behalf of the Chinese government were leveled by members of the Oireachtas in November 2020.[16] Ó Fearghaíl has also praised China's human rights record and economic policies.[17][18]

References

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  1. ^ "Seán Ó Fearghaíl". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Seán Ó Fearghail". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
  3. ^ "Members of the 21st Seanad 1997–2002". Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
  4. ^ "Ó Cuív say he will remain in Fianna Fáil". BBC News. 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Here's the first ever Ceann Comhairle to be elected by secret ballot". thejournal.ie. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Selection of the Ceann Comhairle". www.oireachtas.ie. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Seán Ó Fearghaíl has been re-elected Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann". thejournal.ie. 20 February 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Dáil Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Feargháil tests positive for Covid-19". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Former Garda chief Nóirín O'Sullivan to lead taskforce on politicians' safety". The Irish Times.
  10. ^ Hosford, Paul (15 May 2024). "There is a 'palpable sense of menace' towards politicians, warns former garda boss". Irish Examiner.
  11. ^ "Tributes to Kildare TD who will step down as Ceann Comhairle". Leinster Leader. 30 October 2024.
  12. ^ O'Cearbhaill, Muiris (5 December 2024). "Seán Ó Fearghaíl considering third bid as Ceann Comhairle (after previously ruling it out)". The Journal.
  13. ^ "Verona Murphy pledges to be 'reforming Ceann Comhairle'". RTÉ News. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  14. ^ "'Taste of Ireland-China' in Leinster House – 21 Nov 2019, 11:20 – Houses of the Oireachtas".
  15. ^ Leahy, Pat. "TDs are warned contact with Taiwan 'will offend China'". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  16. ^ Mooney, John. "Ceann comhairle accused of 'meddling' on China's behalf". The Times.
  17. ^ Mahon, Brian. "Ceann comhairle 'praised' China's human rights record". The Times.
  18. ^ "Ambassador He Xiangdong Meets with Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl". china-embassy.gov.cn.
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Preceded by Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
2016–2024 		Succeeded by
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