Leitrim TD up for important Dáil job after missing ministerial position

Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan was nominated by An Tánaiste for Leas Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil in 2027 after missing out on becoming a junior minister yesterday.

Frank Feighan who topped the polls in the Sligo-Leitrim during the general election was expected to be returned to a junior minister position yesterday as the Government announced who would fill the 23 junior minister positions.

Feighan who previously was a junior minister in the Department of Health has expressed disappointment at not being offered a junior minister position, however took to Twitter to say that he is “Very honoured and delighted” to be nominated for the Leas Ceann Comhairle job.

The announcement was made after Taoiseach and Tánaiste proposed a rotating Leas Ceann Comhairle to be put in operation for the duration of this government.

The Leas Ceann Comhairle is the deputy Ceann Comhairle, and fills in if Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy, is unable to take her seat at any point.

Michael Martin put forward Carlow-Kilkenny TD John McGuiness for the first term in this job which would last up until November of 2027. 

Mr Feighan’s constituency partner, Marian Harkin had already secured the junior minister position for Education during negotiations talks between the Regional Independents group, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

She will take up a junior ministership in the Department of Higher Education with responsibility for further education, apprenticeship, construction and climate skills, though she will not be officially a junior minister until legislation is passed increasing the number of junior ministers allowed in government from 20 to 23.

John McGuiness and Frank Feighan were the only two deputies nominated for this position so far, however, that does not mean that there may not be more.

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