Seán Ó Fearghaíl is in the unique position of being automatically returned to Dáil Éireann by virtue his role as Ceann Comhairle. Mr Ó Fearghaíl will serve his third term as Ceann Comhairle in the 34th Dáil.

Mr Ó Fearghaíl, a 64-year-old native of Dublin, first became a Fianna Fáil TD in the Kildare South constituency in the 2002 general election – his fifth attempted at being elected to the Dáil. He has been returned to the Dáil on each occasion since then.

Before becoming Ceann Comhaire, he served as Fianna Fáil’s chief whip for a period.

Before becoming a TD, Mr Ó Fearghaíl was a senator on the agricultural panel and a county councillor.

The Ceann Comhairle is married to Clare Meaney, and they have one son and three daughters. Before working in politics, Mr Ó Fearghaíl worked for Dublin Corporation – now Dublin City Council – and is from a well-known farming family.