Yesterday was not the first occasion on which Senator Brian Mullooly stood for the office of Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. He was elected Leas-Cathaoirleach in July 1995 in succession to Mr Liam Naughten of Fine Gael. After Mr Naughten's death in a car crash last year, Mr Mullooly contested the election for Cathaoirleach with Mr Naughten's son, Denis, but was beaten by three votes.
Mr Mullooly was born in Strokestown, Co Roscommon in 1935 and was formerly a principal of Carniska National School. He was educated at Summerhill College in Sligo and St Patrick's Teacher Training College in Dublin.
At the suggestion of the late Mr Brian Lenihan, he joined Fianna Fail in the late 1960s and was elected to Roscommon County Council in 1974. He was chairman of that council from 1985 to 1991.
Mr Mullooly has been a senator since 1981, having been nominated for the Labour Panel by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. From 1983 to 1992, he was Fianna Fail spokesman on education in the Seanad.
He was the party's chief whip in the upper house from 1993 to 1995.
In 1993, he almost lost his seat, beating Mr Des Hanafin to the final seat on the Labour panel of the Seanad by only 0.9 of a vote on the 24th count.
He was elected somewhat more comfortably at the last Seanad election, coming third on the first count.
In the 1996 Seanad Register of Interests, which required senators to disclose shareholdings of a value greater than £10,000, Mr Mullooly's entry stated he held shares in Jefferson Smurfit Plc and had sold shares in CRH Ltd. in November 1995.
While he has a low national profile, he is well-liked in the Seanad, a factor which was reflected in the absence of opposition to his appointment. He is married to Nancy Kelly and has five daughters and three sons.
As Cathaoirleach, his salary will rise from £21,000 to £36,546. He will also have the use of a State car and will be a member of the Presidential Commission.
