Ceann Comhairle
Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Brendan Howlin, T.D., Deputy Speaker of Dáil Éireann
| Private Secretary: | Jackie Leavy |
| E-mail: | LeasCC@Oireachtas.ie |
Parliamentary Office |
Constituency Office |
| Dáil Éireann Leinster House Dublin 2 Ireland |
|
| Tel + 353 (0)1 618 3444 | 053 91 24036 |
| Fax + 353 (0)1 618 4111 |
Election of Deputy Brendan Howlin as Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
Deputy Brendan Howlin was elected to the Office of Leas-Cheann Comhairle
on 26th June 2007. On
being elected Deputy Howlin stated “I am very grateful to
the House and am deeply honoured to be elected to the office
of Leas-Cheann Comhairle. As was said kindly by those who
supported me, I have a deep respect for the House and every Member
who goes through the electoral process to get here. I look forward
to making the declaration required of me when I take the Chair
for the first time. I pledge to the House to do all I can to
advance the rights and privileges of Members, who are democratically
elected to the House, and to uphold the tradition and dignity
of the House in all that I do in their name.”
Role of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
The Leas-Cheann Conhairle holds office as the Deputy Chairman of Dáil Éireann
under Article 15.9.1 of the Constitution. The expression “Leas-Cheaann
Comhairle”
is defined by Standing Order 5 as the member elected by Dáil Éireann
to be Deputy Chairman of Dáil Éireann. In
the absence of the Ceann Comhairle the Leas-Cheann Comhairle deputises
and performs the duties and exercises the authority of the Cheann
Comhairle in Dáil proceedings as follows:
- Ensuring that the Standing Orders are complied with; ruling on their
interpretation where a dispute arises; ensuring that they are
upheld and, if not, dealing with disorderly members;
- Presiding over debates and ensuring that members’ speeches
are relevant to the matter under discussion;
- Ensuring that business is conducted in an orderly and impartial
manner; and
- Dealing with discipline.
In this role it is
the privilege and duty of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to protect,
on behalf of the House, the right of its individual Members and
to ensure that the business of Parliament is progressed in an
orderly and dignified way befitting the House in its role, both
as a constituent part of the legislature and as the directly
elected Assembly to which the government in constitutionally
accountable. When
in the chair, as the impartial presiding member, the Leas-Cheann
Comhairle cannot take one side over the other.
Official positions held by the Leas-Ceann Comhairle in the absence of
the Cheann Comhairle:
In the official absence of the Ceann Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle
deputises and acts as follows:
· Under the Constitution as an ex-officio member of the Presidential
Commission which acts in the absence of the President;
· Under Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann as:
- An ex-officio Chairman of
the Committee on Procedure and Privileges;
- As Chairman of the Executive of the Inter-Parliamentary Union which
maintains and nutures contacts between Parliaments all over the
world.
· Under statute as an ex-officio Chairman/Member of
Statutory Bodies:
- as a member of the appeal board in relation to the registration of political
parties (Electoral Act, 1997) and a member of the appeal board
to hear appeals in relation to registration of nominating bodies
for the Seanad election
– Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947;
· In the EU as an ex-officio Member of the Presidents (Speakers) of Parliament
of the E.U.
Independence of Leas-Cheann
Comhairle:
The independence and impartiality of the Office of Leas-Cheann Comhairle
is recognised in a number of ways:
· A Minister or Minister of State cannot hold the Office of Leas-Cheann
Comhairle;
· In the absence of the Ceann-Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is
ex-officio a member of the Presidential Commission, which acts
as President in the absence of the President who is also required
to be above politics;
· The Ceann Comhairle or Leas-Cheann Comhairle when presiding may not
make a speech in the Dáil or cast a deliberative vote on any
matter and may exercise a casting vote only i.e where there is
an equality of votes.
The independence and impartiality of the Office of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle
is enhanced by the requirement, under Standing Order 9, that
the incoming Leas-Cheann Comhairle, on assuming Office, makes
a declaration to that end.
Profile
Constituency:
Wexford
Euro Electoral
Region:
East
Electoral Status:
Brendan Howlin is currently a sitting TD for Wexford
.
Address:
Whiterock Hill
Wexford
Co. Wexford
Tel:
Home: 053 -91-24036
Dail: 01 6184366
Fax: 01 6184542
Email:
brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie or leascc@oireachtas.ie
Website:
http://brendanhowlin.ie
Political
Career:
· Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dail Eireannn, June 2007
· Elected to the 30th Dail, May 2007
· Elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party 1997
· Labour Party Spokesperson on the Environment
· Member of Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government
· Minister for the Environment 1994-1997
· Minister for Health 1993-1994
· First Elected Dáil Éireann 1987
· Member Seanad Éireann 1983-1987
· Alderman Wexford Corporation 1981-1993
· Member Wexford County Council 1985-1993
The Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa
(AWEPA)
AWEPA is an international non-governmental organisation
that supports parliaments in Africa and works to keep Africa
high on the political agenda in Europe. It has some 1500 current
and former parliamentarians as members from the European Parliament
and almost all EU member states, plus Norway and Switzerland.
With its roots in the campaign to end apartheid in South
Africa, AWEPA now works in Africa from a development perspective
to strengthen the core functions of parliaments: oversight, representation
and legislation. It believes that strong parliaments are essential
prerequisites for Africa's development. They contribute to peace,
stability and prosperity on the continent. In Europe, AWEPA members
improve the understanding and commitment among parliamentarians
and other political leaders towards important issues in Africa.
AWEA strives to
reduce poverty and to protect human rights by supporting the
well functioning of parliaments in Africa and by keeping Africa
on the political agenda in Europe.
The
Executive Committee is elected by the Council for a period of
five years to prepare, and under supervision of the Council execute,
the policy of the organisation and meets four times a year. It
is composed of the President, Vice-Presidents and is chaired
by the Secretary-General. Mr.
Brendan Howlin, T.D. is one of the six Vice-Presidents of
the Executive Committee of AWEPA.
AWEA’s work
focuses on
- African parliaments: capacity building
training and parliamentary exchange
- Thematic programmes: mobilising parliamentary
action on development related issues
- European parliaments: mobilising European
parliamentarians for Africa
- Research and publications: on development related
issues and parliamentary democracy
Link to web site http://www.awepa.org
The Constitutional Challenge for the Oireachtas and Other Member
State legislatures which was edited by Dr. Barrett.
The Leas-Cheann Comhairle Brendan Howlin with Dr. Gavin Barrett
at the recent launch of National Parliaments and the European
Union.
The Leas-Cheann Comhairle Brendan Howlin and His Majesty
King Albert II of the Belgians at a meeting during his official
visit Leinster House on October 8th. The King who was accompanied
on the visit by his wife Queen Paola and members of economic and
cultural delegations, had discussions with the Leas Cheann comhairle
on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.