The Ceann Comhairle is the chairperson or speaker of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the parliament (Oireachtas) of the Republic of Ireland. The person who holds that position is elected by TDs (members of Dáil Éireann) from among their number in the first session after a general election.
The Ceann Comhairle must act in an independent manner. He/she is the arbiter when there is a tie during any votes in the Dáil. He/she also maintains the order of the house.
To help maintain this independence from the various parties within the Dáil, the Ceann Comhairle is automatically re-elected in the following general election (provided the Ceann Comhairle is not retiring from the Dáil).
The current Ceann Comhairle (since 2002) is Dr. Rory O'Hanlon TD, Deputy for Cavan-Monaghan.