Local Senator Joe O'Reilly says he is "absolutely honoured" to have been chosen by Fine Gael to take over as Leas-Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.
Fine Gael senators took a vote to choose the party’s nominee for the position and the long-serving local senator came out the winner.
The position became vacant last month following the resignation of Cork Senator Jerry Buttimer - he resigned as a result of his attendance at the controversial Oireachtas Golf Society dinner.
Mr O'Reilly will go before the Seanad in the coming days to be confirmed as Leas Cathoirleach, a position which comes with an allowance of €25,000 on top of a senator's salary of over €68,000.
He told The Wider View that there is an agreement that the role will go to the Fine Gael nominee:
