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2025 Seanad Election
An indirect election to the 27th Seanad took place in January 2025, following the 2024 general election to the 34th Dáil in November 2024. Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas, with Dáil Éireann as its lower house. Polls closed for six senators elected in two university constituencies on 29 January and for 43 senators elected on five vocational panels on 30 January; the remaining 11 senators were be nominated by the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin. The election saw senators from Aontú and the Social Democrats elected for the first time. Background The Constitution of Ireland provides that a Seanad election must take place within 90 days of the dissolution of the Dáil Éireann. The 33rd Dáil was dissolved on 8 November 2024. On 15 November 2024, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, signed an order for the Seanad elections, providing 29 January as the deadline for ballots in the university constituencies and 30 January as the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann ( ; ; "Senate of Ireland") is the senate of the Oireachtas (the Irish legislature), which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann (defined as the house of representatives). It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members senators ( in Irish language, Irish, singular: ). Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by various methods. Its powers are much weaker than those of the Dáil and it can only delay laws with which it disagrees, rather than veto them outright. It can introduce new legislation. Since its establishment, it has been located in Leinster House. Composition Under Article 18 of the Constitution of Ireland, Constitution, Seanad Éireann consists of 60 senators, composed as follows: * Eleven Nominated members of Seanad Éireann, nominated by the Taoiseach. * Six elected in university constituencies by the graduates of certain Irish universities: ** Three by graduates of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
27th Seanad
The 27th Seanad has been in office since February 2025. The 2025 Seanad election took place in January 2025, following the 2024 Irish general election, 2024 general election to the 34th Dáil on 29 November 2024. It was fully composed on 7 February 2025 on the nomination of members by the taoiseach. Background The Constitution of Ireland requires a general election for Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas, to take place no later than ninety days after the dissolution of Dáil Éireann. There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels by serving politicians; 6 were elected in two university constituencies; and 11 are Nominated members of Seanad Éireann, nominated by the taoiseach who was appointed after the assembly of the 34th Dáil. It will remain in office until the close of poll for the 28th Seanad. The 33rd Dáil was dissolved on 8 November 2024. On 15 November 2024, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Bri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Heffernan (Irish Politician)
James Heffernan (born 3 October 1979) is an Irish former Labour Party politician. Background He is from a Limerick hurling family, with his father and brother, both called Pat, having played for the county. Heffernan was heavily involved with Labour Youth during his time in university, serving on the organisation's internal disciplinary committee. Career Primary-school teacher A graduate of the University of Limerick, Heffernan was a primary school teacher by profession. Before becoming a full-time politician in around 2009, Heffernan taught in a number of schools, including St Anne's in Whitechapel, London. Labour politician He was a candidate at 2007 general election for the Limerick West constituency. He was a member of Limerick County Council from 2009 to 2011 for the Kilmallock local electoral area. He was a candidate at the 2011 general election for the Limerick constituency, polling 7,910 first preference votes (17.5%). He was elected to the 24th Seanad in April 201 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Social Democrats (Ireland)
The Social Democrats () are a social democratic political party in Ireland. Led by Holly Cairns since March 2023, the party was launched on 15 July 2015 by three independent TDs: Catherine Murphy, Róisín Shortall, and Stephen Donnelly. It promotes the Nordic model of political economy, pro-European views, and implementing Sláintecare, a plan to reform the Irish healthcare system. History 2015–2019: Foundation and early elections The Social Democrats was established with a co-leadership arrangement between its three founding members. Róisín Shortall is a former Labour Party TD and former Minister of State at the Department of Health. She resigned from the role and from Labour in September 2012, citing lack of support and the lack of an explanation from then-Minister for Health James Reilly concerning his controversial decision to locate a new primary care centre in his own constituency. Catherine Murphy was successively a member of the Workers' Party, De ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aontú
Aontú (; "Unity") is a conservative Irish republican political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It has been led by Peadar Tóibín since its foundation in January 2019. The party holds socially conservative positions, with a significant policy being opposition to abortion, and is left-wing on economic issues. Some political observers have variously characterised Aontú as centre-left, right-wing, or populist. History The party was founded by Peadar Tóibín, a TD who resigned from Sinn Féin on 15 November 2018 due to his anti-abortion views after opposing the party whip on the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. Tóibín began canvassing elected representatives, securing support within a week from two local councillors in the Republic. Tóibín held meetings across the island addressing interested potential members. The first Northern Ireland local councillor declared on 7 January 2019. eight councillors had jo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin (; born 16 August 1960) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician serving as Taoiseach since January 2025, having previously held the position from 2020 to 2022. Martin served as Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence (Ireland), Minister for Defence from December 2022 to January 2025. He has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011 and a Teachta Dála, TD for Cork South-Central (Dáil constituency), Cork South-Central since 1989. He previously served as Leader of the Opposition (Ireland), Leader of the Opposition from 2011 to 2020 and held various cabinet offices under Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen. Born in Cork (city), Cork, Martin initially worked as a teacher before entering politics. He was elected to Cork City Council in 1985, and served as Lord Mayor of Cork from 1992 to 1993. In 1989 Irish general election, 1989, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann for Cork South-Central, a seat he has re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nominated Members Of Seanad Éireann
There are 60 seats in Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (the legislature of Ireland). Its composition is set out in Article 18 of the Constitution of Ireland. This provides for 11 senators to be nominated by the Taoiseach who is appointed next after the general election to Dáil Éireann (Ireland's house of representatives). These nominations allow the government to reach a majority in the Seanad, for smaller parties in coalition or supporting the government to achieve more significant Seanad representation, and for the appointment of Independent members to represent particular interests. Those in the last category have included representatives from Northern Ireland; Billy Lawless, a resident of Chicago, nominated by Enda Kenny in 2016 to represent the interest of the Irish diaspora; and Eileen Flynn, nominated by Micheál Martin in 2020, the first female Traveller to sit in the Oireachtas. As the outgoing Seanad continues in session after a general election t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vocational Panel
A vocational panel () is any of five lists of candidates from which are elected a total of 43 of the 60 senators in Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of Ireland. Each panel corresponds to a grouping of "interests and services" (professions or vocations) of which candidates are required to have "knowledge and practical experience". The panels are nominated partly by Oireachtas members and partly by vocational organisations. From each panel, between five and eleven senators are elected indirectly, by Oireachtas members and local councillors, using the single transferable vote. The broad requirements are specified by Article 18 of the Constitution of Ireland and the implementation details by acts of the Oireachtas, principally the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947, and associated statutory instruments. Interests and services, and subpanels Article 18.7.1° of the Constitution defines the five panels and specifies that each shall elect between ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
University Constituencies
A university constituency is a constituency, used in elections to a legislature, that represents the members of one or more universities rather than residents of a geographical area. These may or may not involve plural voting, in which voters are eligible to vote in or as part of this entity and their home area's geographical constituency. When James VI inherited the English throne in 1603, the system was adopted by the Parliament of England. The system was continued in the Parliament of Great Britain (from 1707 to 1800) and the United Kingdom Parliament, until 1950. It was also used in the Parliament of Ireland, in the Kingdom of Ireland, from 1613 to 1800, and in the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1936. Such constituencies have also existed in Japan and in some countries of the British Empire such as India. At present there are four instances in two countries of university constituencies: two in Seanad Éireann (the upper—and in general less powerful—house of the Oireachta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lower House
A lower house is the lower chamber of a bicameral legislature, where the other chamber is the upper house. Although styled as "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has come to wield more power or otherwise exert significant political influence. Common attributes In comparison with the upper house, lower houses frequently display certain characteristics (though they vary by jurisdiction). Powers In a parliamentary system, the lower house: * In the modern era, has much more power, usually due to restrictions on the upper house. ** Exceptions to this are Australia, Italy, and Romania, where the upper and lower houses have similar power. * Is able to override the upper house in some ways. * Can vote a motion of no confidence against the government, as well as vote for or against any proposed candidate for head of government at the beginning of the parliamentary term. In a presidential system, the lower house: * Generally has less power th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann ( ; , ) is the lower house and principal chamber of the Oireachtas, which also includes the president of Ireland and a senate called Seanad Éireann.Article 15.1.2° of the Constitution of Ireland reads: "The Oireachtas shall consist of the President and two Houses, viz.: a House of Representatives to be called Dáil Éireann and a Senate to be called Seanad Éireann." It consists of 174 members, each known as a (plural , commonly abbreviated as TDs). TDs represent 43 Dáil constituencies, constituencies and are directly elected for terms not exceeding five years, on the system of proportional representation using the single transferable vote (PR-STV). Its powers are similar to those of lower houses under many other bicameralism, bicameral parliamentary systems and it is by far the dominant branch of the Oireachtas. Subject to the limits imposed by the Constitution of Ireland, it has the power to pass any law it wishes, and to nominate and remove the Taoiseach (h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas ( ; ), sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the Bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of the president of Ireland and the two houses of the Oireachtas (): a house of representatives called Dáil Éireann and a senate called Seanad Éireann. The houses of the Oireachtas sit in Leinster House in Dublin, an eighteenth-century Duke, ducal palace. The directly elected Dáil is the more powerful of the houses of the Oireachtas. Etymology The word comes from the Irish language, Irish word / ("deliberative assembly of freemen; assembled freemen; assembly, gathering; patrimony, territory"), ultimately from the word ("freeman"). Its first recorded use as the name of a legislative body was within the Irish Free State. Composition Dáil Éireann is directly elected under universal suffrage of all Irish citizens who are residents and at least eighteen years old; non-Irish citizens may be enfranchised by law ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
