Two people will run for election to the office of Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil.

Seán Ó Feargháil and Denis Naughten have sent their nominations to the clerk of Dáil, Peter Finnegan.

The 33rd Dáil will convene at 12.00pm on Thursday.

The clerk will first read out the Proclamation, received from President Michael D Higgins, convening the 33rd Dáil.

This will be followed by the report as to the issue of writs and then the names of the members elected for each constituency, in the order in which they were elected.

The next item of business is the election of Ceann Comhairle.

He will be selected by secret ballot and the person selected will then be formally elected by an open vote in the Dáil.

Kildare South TD Seán Ó Feargháil has held the position since 2016.

The Ceann Comhairle ('speaker' or 'chairperson') presides impartially and authority over the business and proceedings of the House.

They ensure the proper conduct of debate, parliamentary questions and tackle disorderly conduct.

The Ceann Comhairle formally opens each day's sitting by reading the official prayer.

They are also the sole judge of order and have a range of powers and functions.

They can call on members to speak and all speeches must be addressed to the chair.

The Ceann Comhairle can also put questions to the House and can suspend or adjourn it.

An important power reserved to the Ceann Comhairle is to accept and put a motion for the closure of a debate when, in their view, the issue has been adequately discussed.

They must also exercise a casting vote in the case of a tied Dáil chamber.

The Ceann Comhairle represents Dáil Éireann at international meetings of parliamentarians such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, conferences of Speakers of Parliaments, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.

The Dáil's first Ceann Comhairle was Cathal Brugha in January 1919.

Main image: This composite photo shows Sean O Fearghail (right) and Denis Naughten (right) | Image: Sasko Lazarov/Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland