Fianna Fáil to back Verona Murphy's Ceann Comhairle bid

James Cox

Fianna Fáil TDs are set to back Independent TD Verona Murphy in her bid to be the next Ceann Comhairle following approval from Tánaiste and party leader Micheál Martin.

The parliamentary party met this afternoon to discuss how the would vote in the Dáil tomorrow, where the next Ceann Comhairle will be decided.

A spokesperson for the party said members endorsed the proposal by Mr Martin to vote for Ms Murphy.

This has caused some friction amongst the party as outgoing Ceann Comhairle and Fianna Fáil member Seán Ó Fearghaíl has also put himself forward for the position.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael will hold a parliamentary meeting later on this evening and are also expected to consider Ms Murphy as their preferred candidate.

Ms Murphy is a leading member of a group of Regional Independent TDs, and it's understood her nomination as Ceann Comhairle could pave the way for government formation.

While Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have both engaged with the Labour Party and the Social Democrats, a coalition with Independent TDs is more likely.

Mr Ó Fearghaíl said the role shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip in government formation talks.

"These positions are, if you like, outside the remit of party politics. Therefore, the membership of the Dáil in its totality to decide upon."

He added: "They're the reforms that were introduced by [former taoiseach] Enda Kenny, they're the reforms that have been built on in the meantime, and we shouldn't be going back on them. In fact, there are far more reforms that we need to enact in order to modernise Dáil Éireann."