BREAKING POLITICAL NEWS: PAT THE COPE ELECTED LEAS CHEANN COMHAIRLE

written by Stephen Maguire July 6, 2016

Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher

Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher has been elected the new Leas Cheann-Comhairle of the Dail.

The 68 year old West Donegal Fianna Fail stalwart defeated Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan by 69 votes to 68, followed by Sinn Féin’s Sean Crowe and Independent TD Mattie McGrath.

The verdict comes after six weeks of negotiations when none of four candidates seeking the job got enough votes.

Deputy Gallagher will receive a €34,000 per year top-up to the TD salary of €87,000.

The post carries the same rank as a junior minister which also brings the right to hire two drivers to drive the office holder’s own car.

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Stephen Maguire

Stephen Maguire is the co-founder of Donegal Daily. He has worked as a reporter for almost 30 years starting locally with the Donegal Peoples Press before moving to the Mirror Group. He continues to contribute daily to national media outlets including the Irish Times, RTE, the Irish Independent, Irish Sun, Irish Mirror, Irish Star, the Daily Mail and the Examiner.

BREAKING POLITICAL NEWS: PAT THE COPE ELECTED LEAS CHEANN COMHAIRLE

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