FF's McGuinness enters Ceann Comhairle race

Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness is going to run in the election to become the Dáil's new Ceann Comhairle next Wednesday.

Mr McGuinness has been a TD for Carlow-Kilkenny since 1997.

Fianna Fáil will discuss its approach to the vote when its parliamentary party meets on Tuesday.

The Dáil is set to sit at 10.30am next Wednesday for the first time since last month's General Election.

The outgoing Ceann Comhairle, Sean Ó Fearghaíl, who is also a Fianna Fáil TD, is seeking re-election to the role for a third term.

The Kildare South TD has been in the role since 2016.

The Regional Independent group has asked Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to support its candidate Verona Murphy.

If elected to the role she would become the first woman Chair of the Dáil.

Ms Murphy was re-elected for the Wexford constituency in the recent election.

Sinn Féin, too, will nominate a candidate, with speculation centred on Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

Mr Ó Snodaigh was first elected as a TD for the Dublin South-Central constituency in 2002.