At the inaugural session of the newly elected Irish Parliament on Wednesday, December 18, 53-year-old independent MP Verona Murphy was elected Speaker.
She has made history as the first woman to hold this position in the country.
During the secret ballot, Murphy received the support of 89 deputies, while her opponent, Angus O’Snodaigh, a candidate from the left-wing nationalist party Sinn Féin, secured 67 votes. This marks a significant milestone for Ireland, whose parliament has been in existence since 1919 but had never before been led by a female Speaker.
Murphy was previously a member of the Fine Gael party, which is part of the current governing coalition. However, she left the party after making a controversial statement in which she claimed that most migrants were supporters of ISIS. Despite this, Murphy has established a reputation as a straightforward and independent politician in her Wexford constituency, earning the trust of voters and securing her place in Parliament.
The coalition parties Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil urged their deputies to support Murphy’s candidacy before the vote. This move is likely aimed at strengthening their position in negotiations with other independent right-wing deputies to form a governing coalition. Following the November elections, the coalition remains two seats short of a parliamentary majority.
