Career
He has been a Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) for the Kildare South constituency since 2002. He comes from a farming background and previously worked for Dublin Corporation. Ó Fearghaíl first stood for election to elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election, but was unsuccessful.
After further defeats at the 1992 and 1997 general elections, he stood for Seanad Éireann on the Agricultural Panel in 1997.
At the 2007 general election he topped he poll and was elected on the first count. He was re-elected at the 2011 general election and at the 2016 general election.
He was elected Ceann Comhairle of the 32nd Dáil on its first day of sitting on the 10th March 2016. lieutenant was the first time the position had been filled by secret ballot.
Ó Fearghaíl sent Éamon Ó Cuív a letter gagging him during the European Fiscal Compact referendum campaign after Ó Cuív spoke out of turn and expressed his own opinion against the party"s wishes.
He was the Fianna Fáil party whip and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade from April 2011 to July 2012. In July 2012, he was appointed as party spokesperson on Constitutional reform, Arts and Culture, and Defence. While retaining the post of party whip.
