By Róise Collins
YESTERDAY Donegal’s five new TDs took their seat in the first sitting of the Dáil since the general election.
A total of 174 TDs gathered at Leinster house for the convening of the 34th Dáil, up from 160 in 2020.
There are 66 newly elected deputies, including Donegal’s newest TD, Charles Ward from the 100% Redress Party.
Speaking to the Donegal News amidst a busy first day in the Dáil, Deputy Ward said he has received a very warm welcome from fellow TDs and that he was honoured to be there.
“It is great that there is a defective homeowner on the floor of the Dáil,” he added.
Fianna Fáil’s Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher has also made his return to Kildare Street, having lost his seat in the 2020 general election.
His party colleague Charlie McConalogue retained his seat in the Dáil following a tight battle with Independent Thomas Pringle.
Pringle was the only Donegal TD who contested his seat not to be re-elected.
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty has also returned to Dáil chamber after a historic re-election, where he received the highest number of first preference votes not only in the Donegal constituency but in the country.
His running mate Padráig MacLochlainn was also re-elected and made his return to the Dáil yesterday morning.
During yesterday’s proceedings Independent TD Verona Murphy was elected as Ceann Comhairle.
She is the first woman to hold the role. Her election is one of the first steps in forming a new government made up of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Regional Independent Group.
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