CELEBRATING HISTORY Deputy Dara Calleary pictured with family, friends and supporters outside Leinster House on his first day in the Dáil last Thursday. Included is Dara's father, Seán, who also served as a TD for Mayo.
Dara’s Dáil diary
New TD
Dara Calleary
“I headed off to Dublin on the Wednesday (June 13 last) after raising the Green Flag at the tiny national school in Newtownwhite, near Killala. I suppose my feelings were ones of anticipation. I drove to Dublin alone. Having said that, the rain was shocking bad and I really had to concentrate on the driving.
I’ve done the drive so often before and then having been a member of the National Executive and Ógra [Fianna Fáil], I’d been to Government buildings lots of times. But to drive up as a member of the Dáil was a different thing. My father [former TD Seán Calleary] just said ‘take it all in, enjoy it, as it’s a very special day’.
The first thing was that all the first-time TDs were officially welcomed to the Parliamentary Party by [Chairman] Seamus Kirk TD. This was in the Parliamentary Party room, which I was well-used-to since the National Executive meetings are held there.
The mood was very upbeat and the meeting focussed on a general overview of the election. When [Taoiseach] Bertie Ahern addressed it, he got two standing ovations. We were discussing the Programme for Government and, of course, at this stage, we weren’t sure what would happen over at the Mansion House [at the Green Party general meeting to vote on entering coalition]. We knew either way enough members were there to form government.
Afterwards, I headed up to the Grand Canal Hotel, it’s where I usually stay, and met a few friends. My folks travelled up late on Wednesday night and stayed there too.
Then the three of us met for breakfast the following morning. My mother had helped me choose my attire, a grey pin-striped suit, blue shirt and striped tie, all bought in Ballina, I might add! We had to be in for about eleven o’clock, it was raining, lashing. About eleven or 12 supporters had come up on the train and there were some other friends there. They had all booked into the hotel.
There were a lot of media engagements. In fact the first one was with Mid West Radio, with Tommy Marren and Paula Donnellan. Then, because I was among the newcomers, there was RTÉ, TV3 and INN. I ran into Lucinda Creighton [Fine Gael newcomer and Claremorris native] a few times on the plinth. No, I don’t see any romance kindling there, even if she joined Fianna Fáil!
There was the official photograph at 1pm and it was still lashing and very cold for a June day. It was soon 2.30pm and we all moved into the chamber. The first business was for the Clerk of the Dáil to read all the names of those elected into the record. Next, it was the election of the Ceann Comhairle. There had been rumours that it was John O’Donoghue but we knew by where he was sitting that it would be him. Then it was the vote for Taoiseach.
These votes, like the vote for the budget, are done manually. All other Dáil votes are electronic. The votes take about ten minutes: you just walk down the chamber through the lobbies and through a gate, there’s a ‘Tá’ and ‘Níl’ box where you cast your vote. Of course, Jackie Healy Rae’s intervention [about looking after the potholes of south Kerry in Deputy O’Donoghue’s absence] was very funny.
Proceedings were then adjourned, and while Bertie headed off to the Áras, we had time for something to eat. I went to the self-service restaurant, with my father, he had been allowed in to the gallery. I can’t remember now, but I think I had burger and chips. We then reassembled at 7pm.
I felt very happy with the new Cabinet. Delighted with Brian Lenihan’s promotion [to the Justice portfolio] and happy with Noel Dempsey going to Transport. He has good Mayo connections, with his wife being from Ballyhaunis. I don’t know the Greens well, but look forward to working with them.
It was all adjourned again at nine o’clock to allow the Cabinet to go to the Áras. I went back to the hotel and had a few quiet drinks with my family and friends. It was all laid-back, a good bit of craic and reminiscing. It was really the first time we had a chance to reflect on the hectic months. Senator Mark McSharry (Sligo) and a few other TDs staying in the hotel joined us. I headed off to bed around 1am.
In conversation with Áine Ryan
