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Leas-Cheann Comhairle Catherine Connolly TD In July 2020, Catherine Connolly TD became the first ever woman to hold office as either Ceann Comhairle or as Leas-Cheann Comhairle in the Dáil’s 101-year history when she secured a shock victory in the secret ballot. Ciarán Galway meets with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of the 33rd Dáil in her Leinster House office to discuss the role and her initial impressions. Following General Election 2020, two valid nominations were received by Peter Finnegan, Clerk of Dáil Éireann, and deemed to be candidates for the position of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. In June 2016, an amendment to Dáil Éireann Standing Order 11 determined that candidates for the position be selected by secret ballot (using PR-STV) before being formally elected through an open vote in the Dáil. Outlining the rationale which informed her decision to contest the 2020 election, Connolly indicates that she felt compelled to challenge the only other nominee, Fergus O’Dowd, a male TD from a government party. “I went for it because I felt, as a woman, I couldn’t continue to make the critique that not enough women were putting themselves forward, that we need gender equality and then not do something about it. The rationale was not only to have a female candidate, but to have an Opposition candidate also,” she says. In the event, Connolly narrowly defeated
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Fine Gael’s O’Dowd and succeeded Fianna Fáil’s Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher as Leas-Cheann Comhairle. With a total valid poll of 151, Connolly secured 77 votes to O’Dowd’s 74 votes on the first count. “I was overwhelmed. We went forward believing that we hadn’t a chance. We knew that the Government had the numbers,” she remarks, adding: “I thought that if I could galvanise the Opposition, I would be proud. We talked to the Opposition parties and the support we received was overwhelming. Going into that election, I felt that we had already achieved our objective and illustrated that it was possible. When we then won, it was a shock.” After Connolly made her official declarations and took the Chair, An Ceann Comhairle congratulated her on behalf of the members on what was an historic achievement. “It is a great occasion for her, her family and supporters and for all of us here in Dáil
Éireann,” Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD stated. In the aftermath, Connolly needed some time to digest her victory and time off in August helped her “come to terms with what I and the small group around me had achieved and the significance of it”. The recognition and sense of pride among the people of Galway, especially Connolly’s late aunt, Mary Carpenter née Connolly, brought home a sense of achievement. “It’s a privilege. As the first female LeasCheann Comhairle, I think the symbolism is very important for women, particularly for young women. To go forward, not to play a game or be part of a boys’ club, or a women’s club for that matter, but to stand up and be counted and to show what’s possible,” she asserts. Referencing her working relationship with the Ceann Comhairle, Connolly articulates her respect for Ó Fearghaíl. “He has done a very good job since assuming the role of Ceann Comhairle in 2016. When he went forward again, I had
