Race has already started for plum position
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THE race to succeed Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue has already begun.
The position comes with an annual salary of €225,000, a ministerial car and driver and a guarantee of automatic re-election for the holder.
Labour Wexford TD Brendan Howlin, who is currently the Leas (deputy) Ceann Comhairle, is understood not to be interested in stepping into the position.
But there is strong interest in Fianna Fail in the post, given the difficulties that many TDs are expected to have retaining their seats in the next general election.
But Taoiseach Brian Cowen could strengthen his Government's tenuous position in the Dail by giving the position to a member of the opposition.
The potential Fianna Fail candidates being mentioned around Leinster House last night included Fianna Fail Louth TD Seamus Kirk, who has been elected to the Dail seven times since 1982.
Candidates
Another potential successor is former junior minister Sean Power, who has served in the Kildare South constituency for the past 20 years. Other Fianna Fail candidates being mentioned include former junior minister Michael Ahern, and Dublin South Central TD Sean Ardagh.
The Dail is technically tied at 82 votes apiece, with the Government depending on the support of independent Fianna Fail TDs such as Jim McDaid, Eamon Scanlon and Jimmy Devins to pass legislation.
If Mr Cowen decided to give the post to a member of the opposition, it would deprive them of a Dail vote and give him an extra vote -- because the Ceann Comhairle is constitutionally bound to use his casting vote in favour of the Government.
However, there is a belief in Fine Gael that Mr Cowen will not give such a "plum position" to a member of the opposition. The party is not keen on one of its TDs taking up any such offer because as a senior source said last night, it would merely help to "prop up the Government".
- Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
Irish Independent
