I rise to my feet today, not in support of a particular individual, but in support of the sanctity of an office that upholds the most important thing any sovereign nation has: its democracy. We in this Chamber elected in a fair and free vote Deputy Verona Murphy as Ceann Comhairle of the Thirty-fourth Dáil and as the first ever female Ceann Comhairle in the history of the State.

Sentiment score: 0.23

Last week, we in this Chamber took a vote and if that vote were to be taken again, the outcome would be the same. Respecting outcomes of votes is the very basis for a functioning democracy. The Ceann Comhairle has only sat in that Chair for 23 Dáil sitting days and in that time, we have had two days of chaos, obstruction, ugliness and disrespect, and the exact opposite of a fair wind. That cannot and should not become the norm because dignity and respect in the workplace have to extend to this Chamber.

Sentiment score: 0.10

Dramatics do not help our country and do not help our people. Opposition politics cannot just be about headlines. They also have to be about the country and the nation's interest. It has never been more important to buckle down and get working on behalf of the people of Ireland to protect our stability, our jobs in the face of potential tariffs, the taxes that support our most vulnerable - our older people and children and those in need of healthcare and disability services - and our country's future. Despite the Opposition's best efforts to destabilise Government, Ministers have been working to deliver on our programme for Government commitments and to protect those jobs and our economy in the face of global uncertainty. What we have not been able to do is come before Oireachtas committees, which is something that so many of our backbenchers and I are keen to get established.

Sentiment score: 0.03

I fully support the mandate of our newly and duly elected Ceann Comhairle to get a 24th Dáil day sitting in that Chair and to continue to carry on her democratic duties to ensure the functioning of this Dáil Chamber, as is the democratic duty of all of us.

Sentiment score: 0.68