THE Ceann Comhairle, Mr Sean Treacy, has taken the unusual step of issuing a statement about "recent speculative comment" concerning him both inside and outside Leinster House.
Mr Treacy, who two weeks ago announced he was retiring as a Tipperary South TD at the next election, was responding to speculation that a deal had been done to entice him to step out of national politics.
"In light of recent speculative comment both inside and outside the House and to dispel any suggestion that I personally am the subject of such speculation, I wish to state categorically that my decision not to avail myself - of my Constitutional right to automatic re-election to the 28th Dail was mine alone and was not contingent on any extraneous circumstances," he said.
To speculate otherwise was "ungracious, deeply wounding and indeed impugns the integrity with which I have served Dail Eireann as its Presiding Officer", Mr Treacy added.
His decision to retire from politics at the age of 73, has led to the expectation that the three seats in South Tipperary will be taken by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour. Had Mr Treacy continued in politics, his automatic re-election as Ceann Comhairle would have almost certainly deprived Mr Michael Ferris of a Labour seat.