Secret ballot takes place to elect Leas Cheann Comhairle

A secret ballot to elect a Leas Cheann Comhairle for the Dáil has taken place after closing at noon.

Counting of votes will take place at 7pm on Wednesday.

It is the second attempt to elect a TD to the deputy speaker position from among the same four candidates: Independent TD Mattie McGrath (Tipperary), Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan (Kildare North), Sinn Féin's Sean Crowe (Dublin South-West) and Fianna Fáil's Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher (Donegal).

In an open ballot last month, each of the candidates was defeated in the vote.

Speaking in the Dáil before the secret ballot Independent TD Mattie McGrath described it as a very important office, and he said: “I will do my utmost to ensure parity of esteem for every TD.”

Fine Gael nominee Bernard Durkan quoted the late American baseball player Yogi Berra, saying it was “déjà vu all over again” with the second ballot.

He described it as a great honour to be nominated by his parliamentary party and to have served in the House for many years.

He told the Dáil: “We need to encourage the new members of the House to be able to speak on behalf of their constituents and to do so fearlessly.”

Mr Durkan said: “We all need to develop a greater respect for the words we say to each other.

“One should never become bitter in politics because it leaves a lasting taste not only in the minds of the people in the House but those outside the House.”

Mr Durkan added: “We should never take somebody’s character.”

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams spoke for Mr Crowe, who, was recovering from an operation, Mr Adams said.

Mr Crowe was first elected in 2002 in Rathfarnham but lives in Tallaght and served on South Dublin County Council.

He led Sinn Féin delegates to the peace forum and was involved in the Belfast Agreement talks. Mr Adams said “he is very experienced in events” that are now part of our history.

The Sinn Féin leader said Mr Crowe had never taken away anyone’s character, and that, if elected, “he will work to the best of his ability to the benefit of every TD here and will act in an impartial and fair manner”.

Mr Gallagher said he respected and appreciated the confidence that has been placed in him to be nominated.

He said it was his ninth term as a TD and that he was first elected in 1981. “In those years I have gained considerable experience of the workings of this House.”

Mr Gallagher, who also served two terms in the European Parliament, said he had excellent working relationships with all sides of the House.

He said he “seldom got involved in any acrimony and never intentionally insulted any member of the House”.