Cowen would like agreement on new Ceann Comhairle

A UNANIMOUS decision by the Dáil on the choice of the next Ceann Comhairle would be preferable, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said.

Mr Cowen also said it would have been reasonable that Mr Donoghue be given "space and time" to prepare a statement to the House, as he had not been afforded the opportunity to do so at a proposed meeting of the Oireachtas Commission.

"There are some who cannot step back from dancing on a grave, but I am not one of them," he added.

Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the issue had not arisen out of anything very edifying in the first place.

Mr Cowen said he was prepared to listen to what Opposition leaders had to say about Mr O'Donoghue's successor.

"Informal consultation can take place in the next day or two to see what prospective candidates emerge," he added."This needs to be done in a way that upholds the dignity of the House."

The Taoiseach was responding to Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, who asked if Mr Cowen had given any consideration to how the House might deal with the election of Mr O'Donoghue's successor. The House had a new set of circumstances, said Mr Gilmore, adding that he did not believe there had been a case previously where it was necessary to elect a Ceann Comhairle in the mid-term of a Dáil.

Given the necessity to reach an agreement on the election of a new Ceann Comhairle, who would enjoy the confidence of all sides of the House, the Taoiseach should have a meeting with the party leaders, he added.

Mr Gilmore said he welcomed John O'Donoghue's statement that he intended to resign at 2.30pm next Tuesday.

He understood, he added, that Mr O'Donoghue had asked for some time to deal with staff, papers and other issues. "It is not unreasonable that he be given that time," he added.

He said that Labour had a motion of no confidence in Mr O'Donoghue on the order paper. He intended to leave it there, and, if there was any attempt to take advantage of any changing political circumstances, he would insist that the motion be taken before any other business.

Mr Cowen said he respected Mr O'Donoghue's decision to resign.

"I respect the fact that it is being done in the interests of this House and the office of Ceann Comhairle." He added: "In the light of that decision, it is less than seemly to haggle over the arrangements for his early resignation.

"It is not unreasonable that the Ceann Comhairle should have the opportunity to organise his affairs, including the implications for staff, and to prepare his statement.

"To impute other motives to his decision to resign next week is, as Deputy [ Pat] Rabbitte observed on the radio earlier this morning, merely cynical."

Mr Cowen said that following a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on Tuesday, discussions involving the party whips and the Ceann Comhairle had taken place.

"As would be my practice, I kept the leader of the Green Party advised of developments in those discussions over the course of yesterday evening," he added.

"The situation was clarified by the Ceann Comhairle's decision to announce his intention to resign next week." He said that was the course of action taken by Mr O'Donoghue, based on contacts with the party whips, and he believed it was the right thing to do.

He added: "We should allow that to proceed so the dignity of this House, and the dignity of the position, can be respected and the incumbent is respected in respect of the decision he has reached."