Daly is Cathaoirleach after charged FF vote

LEGAL advice had to be sought in an internal Fianna Fáil vote for the position of Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, it has emerged this week.

Ultimately Senator Mark Daly was appointed as the new Cathaoirleach of the Seanad after the Fianna Fail party gave him the nod for the position.

This, however, came about after intense internal wrangling.

Senator Daly eventually won the internal vote, but only after his representative at the count, Grace Coyle, questioned the voting procedures used, procedures which would have put Senator Diarmuid Wilson in line to become Seanad Cathaoirleach.

A ballot of Fianna Fáil’s 20 senators was held at the Convention Centre in Dublin last week to decide who would become Seanad Cathaoirleach for the party.

Three names were put forward for the position – Senator Diarmuid Wilson, Senator Denis O’Donovan and Senator Mark Daly. The counts led to two tied votes, and legal counsel for the party also had to be consulted on two occasions.

Senator Daly led on the first count with eight votes, with the other two candidates taking six votes apiece.

This tie for last place led to confusion over who should be eliminated, and agents for the three candidates were consulted.

It was decided to follow Seanad election procedures and examine all second-preference votes. Senator Wilson had more second preference votes than Senator Donovan, who was duly eliminated.

Senator’s Donovan’s second-preference votes were then distributed between the two remaining candidates.

Senator Wilson received five of those to just one for Senator Daly, seemingly making Senator Wilson the winner with 11 votes to nine.

However, Senator Daly’s representative then questioned the procedures, and Government Chief Whip Dara Calleary duly sought legal advice.

It emerged under legislation that the elimination should have been conducted by drawing lots.

When this was done Senator Wilson was picked for elimination, and his votes were distributed, leading to another tie of 10 votes each between Senators Daly and O’Donovan. Further legal advice was sought, and it was decided, according to Section 122 of the Electoral Act, that Senator Daly was the winner given he had accrued more first-preference votes than his opponent.

Senator Wilson said he is considering his options.