On 1 June 1973,
James Dooge (
FG) was proposed for the position of
Cathaoirleach by
Michael O'Higgins (FG) and seconded by
Jack Fitzgerald (FG). He was elected without a division. On 20 June 1973,
Kit Ahern (
FF) was proposed for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach by
Brian Lenihan (FF) and seconded by
Seán Brosnan (FF). She was defeated by a vote of 18 to 31. Evelyn Owens (
Lab) was proposed by Jack Fitzgerald (FG) and seconded by
Michael Moynihan (Lab). She was elected by a vote of 30 to 18.
Mary Robinson (
Ind) supported the election of Ahern, but abstained in the vote on Owens. ==Composition of the 13th Seanad==