Dáil Éireann

This article is about the current Irish body. For the historical legislatures, seeDáil Éireann (Irish Republic)andDáil Éireann (Irish Free State).

Dáil Éireann
33rd Dáil
Type
Type	Lower houseof theOireachtas
Term limits	None
History
Established	29 December 1937 (Modern form)
Preceded by	Dáil Éireann (Irish Free State)
New session started	20 February 2020
Leadership
Ceann Comhairle	Seán Ó Fearghaíl since10 March 2016
Leas-Cheann Comhairle	Catherine Connolly,Ind since 23 July 2020
Taoiseach	Simon Harris,FG since9 April 2024
Tánaiste	Micheál Martin,FF since17 December 2022
Government Chief Whip	Hildegarde Naughton,FG since 17 December 2022
Deputy Chief Whip	Cormac Devlin,FF since 15 July 2020
Leader of the Opposition	Mary Lou McDonald,SF since 27 June 2020
Opposition Chief Whip	Pádraig Mac Lochlainn,SF since 2 July 2020
Structure
Seats	160
Political groups	Government(79) Fianna Fáil(35) Fine Gael(32) Green(12) Opposition(75) Sinn Féin(33) Labour(6) Social Democrats(6) PBP–Solidarity(5) Independent Ireland(3) Aontú(1) Right to Change(1) Independent(20) Vacant Vacant(5) Ceann Comhairle Ceann Comhairle(1)
Committees	5 Business Members' Interests of Dáil Éireann Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight (Dáil) Public Accounts Standing Orders and Dáil Reform
Joint committees	20 Agriculture, Food and the Marine Autism Children, Disability, Equality, Integration, and Youth Disability Matters Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science Enterprise, Trade and Employment Environment and Climate Action European Union Affairs Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach Foreign Affairs and Defence Gender Equality Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking Community Health Housing, Local Government and Heritage Justice Public Petitions Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands Transport and Communications Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media
Length of term	No more than 5 years
Authority	Articles 16−17, Constitution of Ireland
Salary	€113,679 per yearplus expenses
Elections
Voting system	Proportional representation(single transferable vote)
Last election	8 February 2020
Next election	By March 2025
Redistricting	Advisory recommendations made by theElectoral Commission
Meeting place
Dáil Chamber Leinster House,Kildare Street,Dublin
Website
www.oireachtas.ie
Constitution
Constitution of Ireland
Rules
Dáil Éireann – Standing Orders Relative to Public Business 2020
Footnotes

Dáil Éireann(/dɑːlˈɛərən/dahlAIR-ən,Irish:[ˌd̪ˠaːlʲˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ];lit. 'Assembly of Ireland') is thelower house,and principal chamber, of theOireachtas(Irish legislature), which also includes thepresident of Irelandand asenatecalledSeanad Éireann.It consists of 160 members, each known as aTeachta Dála(pluralTeachtaí Dála,commonly abbreviated as TDs). TDs represent 39constituenciesand are directly elected for terms not exceeding five years, on the system ofproportional representationby means of thesingle transferable vote(PR-STV). Its powers are similar to those of lower houses under many otherbicameralparliamentary systemsand it is by far the dominant branch of the Oireachtas. Subject to the limits imposed by theConstitution of Ireland,it has power to pass any law it wishes, and to nominate and remove theTaoiseach(head of government). Since 1922, it has met inLeinster HouseinDublin.

The Dáil took its current form when the1937 Constitution was adopted,but it maintains continuity with theFirst Dáilestablished in 1919.

Composition

The Dáil has 160 members.The number is set within the limits of theConstitution of Ireland,which sets a minimum ratio of one member per 20,000 of the population, and a maximum of one per 30,000. Under current legislation, members are directly elected for terms not exceeding five years by the people ofIrelandunder a system ofproportional representationknown as thesingle transferable vote.Membership of the Dáil is open to Irish citizens who are 21 or older.A member of the Dáil is aTeachta Dálaand is known generally as a TD or Deputy.

The Dáil electorate consists of Irish and British citizens over 18 years of age who are registered to vote in Ireland.Under the Constitution a general election for Dáil Éireann must occur once in every seven years, but an earlier maximum of five years is set by the Electoral Act 1992.TheTaoiseach(head of government or prime minister) can, at any time, make a request to thepresidentto dissolve the Dáil, in which case a general election must occur within thirty days. The President may refuse to grant the dissolution to a Taoiseach who has ceased to retain the support of a majority in the Dáil; to date, no request for a dissolution has been refused.

Elections

The STV electoral system broadly produces proportional representation in the Dáil. The lowdistrict magnitudeof the constituencies used, however, usually gives a small advantage to the larger parties and under-represents smaller parties. Since the 1990s the norm has been coalition governments. Prior to 1989, single-party governments byFianna Fáilwere common. The multi-seat constituencies required by STV mean that candidates must often compete for election with others from the same party. This system offers wide voter choice but is accused by some of producing TDs who are excessively parochial. By-elections occur under thealternative votesystem. Proposals toamend the constitutionto change to thefirst-past-the-postsystem were rejected in referendumsin 1959andin 1968.

Currently everyDáil constituencyelects between three and five TDs. The constitution specifies that no constituency may return fewer than three TDs but does not specify any upper limit to constituency magnitude. However, statute specifies a maximum of five seats per constituency.The constitution requires that constituency boundaries be reviewed at least once in every twelve years, so that boundaries may be redrawn to accommodate changes in population. Boundary changes are drafted by theElectoral Commission− which from 2023 replaced a judge-ledConstituency Commissionappointed for each review − and its recommendations are implemented by law.Malapportionmentis forbidden by the constitution. Under the Constitution, the commission is required to refer to the most recent Census when considering boundary changes.

Number of members

There are currently 160 TDs in the Dáil. This figure was provided by theElectoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017and has been in place since the2020 general election.It followed a recommendation of aConstituency Commissionwhich reported in 2017, based on the2016 census,to give an average representation of 29,762 of population per member.This ratio is in line with that of many otherEuropean Unionmember state national parliaments' ratios, giving Ireland a similar MP-to-citizen ratio toBulgaria,theCzech Republic,Denmark,Finland,Hungary,Latvia,LithuaniaandSweden.(At the two extremes of the EU range,Maltahas one MP for every 6,000 citizens andSpainone MP for every 130,000 citizens).

Under theElectoral (Amendment) Act 2023,there will be 174 TDs in the next Dáil. This follows a recommendation of theElectoral Commissionin August 2023. This would give an average representation of 29,593 people per TD, based on the 2022 census.

Layout

The Dáil chamber has confrontational benches but the end segment is curved to create a partialhemicycle.The government TDs sit on the left of theCeann Comhairle,with the main opposition party on their right. The Chamber was adapted for use as a Parliament from its former use as a lecture theatre.

Duration

TheFirst Dáilwas established on 21 January 1919 as the single-chamber parliament of theIrish Republic.One of the first actions of the Dáil was to ratify a constitution, commonly known as theDáil Constitution.As a provisional constitution it made no reference to the length of the term of each Dáil. The first and second Dáil existed under the provisions of this constitution. Neither was recognised by the British government or the governments of other countries as the lawful parliament of Ireland.

On 6 December 1922, following the signing of the 1921Anglo-Irish Treatywhich brought the Irish War of Independence to an end, the single chamber Dáil became the lower house of a new bicameral Oireachtas, the parliament of the newly establishedIrish Free State.

Article 28 of theConstitution of the Irish Free State(1922) set the maximum term for the Dáil at four years. This wasamended in 1927from four years to six years "or such shorter period as may be fixed by legislation".Later that same year, this period was fixed in law as a duration of "five years reckoned from the date of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann after the last previous dissolution".

On 29 December 1937, on the coming into force of the newConstitution of Ireland,the Irish Free State ceased to exist and was replaced by a new state called Ireland. Article 16.5 of the 1937 Constitution states, "Dáil Éireann shall not continue for a longer period than seven years from the date of its first meeting: a shorter period may be fixed by law". The period in law remained at five years. Since the coming into force of the 1937 constitution, no Irish government has proposed changing the maximum term of the Dáil, which still remains five years and was reconfirmed by legislation in 1992, which stated, "The same Dáil shall not continue for a longer period than five years from the date of its first meeting".Consequently, the maximum term for the Dáil is five years from the date it first met following the last general election.

Dissolution

Article 16.3.2° of theConstitution of Ireland(1937) provides that an election for the membership of Dáil Éireann must take place not later than 30 days after a dissolution of the current Dáil. Article 16.4.2° requires that the newly elected Dáil Éireann must convene no later than 30 days after the election. As such, the maximum period of time between a dissolution of Dáil Éireann before a general election and the meeting of the new Dáil after a general election is 60 days.

The procedure and timetable for the dissolution of Dáil Éireann, pursuant to a general election, and the date for the reassembly of the newly elected Dáil, after the election, is set out in the Constitution of Ireland. Article 13.2.1° states that "Dáil Éireann shall be summoned and dissolved by the President on the advice of the Taoiseach". Therefore, the timing of a general election rests with the Taoiseach of the day.

Once so advised by the Taoiseach, the President issues a proclamation which specifies the date on which the current Dáil is dissolved, and the date on which the newly elected Dáil must first meet.

The timing for polling day in a general election is decided on by the Taoiseach. However, this is governed within a specified statutory framework. Once the presidential proclamation is issued, theMinister for Housing, Local Government and Heritagesets, by way of a ministerial order, the date and time of polling day in the election.

Section 39(1) of the Electoral Act 1992 states:

"Where the Dáil is dissolved, the Clerk of the Dáil shall, immediately upon the issue of the Proclamation dissolving the Dáil, issue a writ to each returning officer for a constituency directing him to cause an election to be held of the full number of members of the Dáil to serve in the Dáil for that constituency."

Section 96 of the Electoral Act 1992 states:

"(1) A poll at a Dáil election—

(a) shall be taken on such day as shall be appointed by the Minister by order, being a day which (disregarding any excluded day) is not earlier than the seventeenth day or later than the twenty-fifth day next following the day on which the writ or writs for the election is or are issued,

(b) shall continue for such period, not being less than twelve hours, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. as may be fixed by the Minister by order, subject to the restriction that, in the case of a general election, he shall fix the same period for all constituencies.

(2) An order under this section shall be published in theIris Oifigiúilas soon as may be after it is made. "

For the purposes of the Act an "excluded day" means a day which is a Sunday, Good Friday or a day which is declared to be a public holiday by the Holidays (Employees) Act 1973, or a day which by virtue of a statute or proclamation is a public holiday.

Therefore, if the Dáil were dissolved on a Tuesday 1 February (in a non-leap year), and the writs for elections issued by the Clerk of the Dáil on that day, then the earliest date for polling day would be Monday 21 February (17 days later, excluding Sundays) and the latest date for polling would be Wednesday 2 March (25 days after, excluding Sundays), with polling stations being open for a minimum 12-hour period between the hours of 8am and 10.30pm on polling day (as set out in the ministerial order). In such a scenario, the latest date by which the newly elected Dáil must assemble would be Wednesday 23 March (for a 21 February polling date), or Friday 1 April (for a 2 March polling date).

Title

The nameDáil Éireannis taken from theIrish languagebut is the official title of the body in both English and Irish, including in both language versions of theIrish constitution.Since the Dáil was first established in 1919, it has also been described variously as a "National Assembly",a"Chamber of Deputies"and a "House of Representatives".

Adáilmeans a "meeting, tryst or encounter of any kind".Article 15 of the1937 Constitutiondescribes the body as "a House of Representatives to be called Dáil Éireann" (Teach Ionadóirí ar a dtugtar Dáil Éireann).

The wordDáilis accompanied by the definite article, butDáil Éireannis not; one speaks of "the Dáil" but not "the Dáil Éireann".The plural ofDáilin the English language is most commonlyDáils,although the Irish-language pluralDálaíis sometimes encountered in English. As there is only ever one Dáil in existence at any one time, the plural is used when referring to the Dáil after different elections; for example, when referring to theFirstandSecondDáils.

Ceann Comhairle

Main article:Ceann Comhairle

TheCeann Comhairleis the chairperson, or presiding member, of the Dáil. The Ceann Comhairle is chosen from among TDs but is required to observe strict impartiality. Despite this, the government will usually try to select one of its own for the position, if its numbers allow. To protect the neutrality of the chair, an incumbent Ceann Comhairle does not seek re-election as a TD but rather is deemed automatically to have been re-elected by their constituency at a general election, unless they are retiring. The Ceann Comhairle does not vote except in the event of a tie. The current Ceann Comhairle is Fianna Fáil TDSeán Ó Fearghaíl.

Powers

While the Dáil is one of three components of the Oireachtas, the other two being thePresident of IrelandandSeanad Éireann,the powers the constitution grants to the Dáil render it by far the dominant branch, meaning that most bills passed by the Dáil will ultimately become law. The president, upon consultation with theCouncil of State,may refer a bill to theSupreme Court of Irelandto test its constitutionality. If the Court finds that the bill is inconsistent with the Constitution, the president may not sign the bill.

In addition to its legislative role, it is the Dáil that approves the nomination theTaoiseachfor appointment by thePresident.The Dáil may also pass amotion of no confidencein theGovernment,in which case theTaoiseachmust either seek aparliamentary dissolutionor resign. It has happened only once that the loss of confidence of the Dáil did not result in a general election: in 1994John BrutonofFine GaelbecameTaoiseachwhen theLabour Partyleft theFianna Fáilcoalition government led byAlbert Reynolds.

The Dáil has exclusive power to:

• Nominate theTaoiseachfor appointment by the president;
• Approve the Taoiseach's nomineesen blocto serve asGovernment ministerson their appointment by the president;
• Approve the budget;
• Initiate bills toamend the Constitution;
• Ratify treaties which include financial provisions (Provided they do not conflict with the Constitution of Ireland);
• Approve a declaration of war;
• Initiate 'money bills' or bills which incur a charge on the public finances (on the recommendation of the Government only);
• Nominate theComptroller and Auditor General

Activities

Leinster Housein Dublin, seat of Dáil Éireann.

The Dáil determines its ownstanding ordersand its members are protected by certain rights arising fromparliamentary privilege.In line with other modern parliamentary systems, TDs do not generally vote in accordance with their consciences or the wishes of their constituents, but must follow the instructions ofparty whips,a practice that originated in theIrish Parliamentary Party.Except in exceptional circumstances, the Dáil meets in public. The Dáil currently has threestanding committeesand thirteenselect committees.

As of 2019, the Dáil sits on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when the Oireachtas is sitting. On Tuesdays the Dáil normally sits from 2pm until 11pm, on Wednesdays from 9.12am until around 11.30pm and on Thursdays from 9am until around 8pm.

A typical day consists of questions to various cabinet ministers, Leaders’ questions whereby opposition Leaders ask the Taoiseach questions and routine debates on Bills. Every Tuesday and Wednesday three hours over the two days are given to the debate of opposition motions. These normally try to embarrass the government and are widely covered in the media. The government and its majority normally amends these suitably and the amended version is passed by the Government.

Debate and speeches are generally in English, but TDs may switch between Irish and English.

Standards of conduct

TheCeann Comhairlehas ruled that it is disorderly for one deputy to describe another as a brat,buffoon,chancer, communist, corner boy, coward, fascist,gurrier,guttersnipe,hypocrite,rat, scumbag, scurrilous speaker oryahoo;or to insinuate that a TD is lying or drunk; or has violated the secrets of cabinet, or doctored an official report.Also, the reference to "handbagging", particularly with reference to a female member of the House, has been deemed to be unparliamentary. The Dáil maintains a document,Salient Rulings of the Chairwhich covers behaviour in and out of the House by TDs; section 428 of this lists unparliamentary speech.

Committees

Main article:Committees of the Oireachtas

Standing committees

• Committee on Administration
• Committee on Consolidation Bills
• Committee on Members' Interests of Dáil Éireann
• Committee on Procedure and Privileges
  • Sub-committee on Compellability
  • Sub-committee on Dáil Reform
• Committee of Public Accounts

Select committees

• Select committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture
  • Select sub-committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
  • Select sub-committee on Agriculture, Marine and Food
• Select committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht
  • Select sub-committee on Environment, Community and Local Government
  • Select sub-committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport
  • Select sub-committee on Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
• Select committee on European Union Affairs
• Select committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Select committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform
  • Select sub-committee on Finance
  • Select sub-committee on Public Expenditure and Reform
• Select committee on Health and Children
  • Select sub-committee on Health
  • Select Sub-committee on Children and Youth Affairs
• Select committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
• Select committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions
• Select committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education
  • Select sub-committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
  • Select sub-committee on Social Protection
  • Select sub-committee on Education and Skills
• Select committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Special committees

• Special Committee onCOVID-19Response

Voting procedure

The Ceann Comhairle (or Leas-Cheann Comhairle) first puts the question in Irish, asking the TDs present to sayTá(Yes) orNíl(No) if they agree or disagree with the question before them. The Ceann Comhairle then gives his opinion as to the outcome of the voice vote. Deputies can challenge the Ceann Comhairle and demand a recorded vote by shoutingVótáil!(Vote!) The Ceann Comhairle then shoutsVótáil!again which starts the voting process. Division bells sound around Leinster House and in some of its adjoining buildings calling deputies to the chamber to vote. The bells ring for six minutes and the doors to the chamber are locked after a further four minutes.

The Ceann Comhairle then appoints two tellers for each side and deputies are given one minute to vote. The vote is taken by electronic means whereby Deputies press either the Tá or Níl button on their desks to vote for or against a motion. After the voting time has concluded a sheet (Division Paper) containing the result and each TDs vote is signed by the four tellers and given to the Ceann Comhairle who declares the result.

While electronic voting has become the norm the Dáil votes manually through the lobbies at the back of the chamber on a number of occasions, for example, motions of no confidence. A teller in an electronic vote can call a manual vote if they so wish. This has become an opposition tactic during important votes which are widely covered in the media.

History

Precursors

The first legislature to exist in Ireland was theParliament of Irelandfrom 1297 to 1800, and its house of representatives was theHouse of Commons.However the Parliament of Ireland was abolished under theAct of Unionof 1800, with MPs elected for Ireland sitting in theHouse of Commons of the United Kingdomuntil 1922. Irish nationalists first convened Dáil Éireann as a revolutionary parliament in 1919 and while it successfully took over most functions of government it was not recognised underUnited Kingdom law.

In 1921 the United Kingdom government established a legislature called theParliament of Southern Irelandin an effort to appease nationalists by granting Ireland limitedhome rule.However this body was rejected and boycotted by nationalists whose allegiance remained with the Dáil. Nonetheless, because the First Dáil was illegal under the United Kingdom constitution, the lower house of the Parliament of Southern Ireland, theHouse of Commons of Southern Ireland,is considered in British legal theory as the precursor to the Dáil.

Revolutionary Dáil (1919–1922)

Main article:Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic)

The current Dáil derives from the 1937 Constitution of Ireland, but maintain continuity from theFirst Dáilof 1919. This Dáil was an assembly established bySinn FéinMPselected to theHouse of Commons of the United Kingdomin the1918 United Kingdom general election.They had contested the election on amanifestocommitment of "[establishing] a constituent assembly comprising persons chosen by Irish constituencies as the supreme national authority to speak and act in the name of the Irish people". Upon winning 73 of the 105 Irish seats in the election, Sinn Féin MPs refused to recognise theUnited Kingdom parliamentand instead convened as Dáil Éireann (translated as "Assembly of Ireland" ): the unicameral legislature of a unilaterally declaredIrish Republic,and the first Irish parliament to exist since 1801.

The Dáil of the Irish Republic, however, was only recognised internationally by theRussian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.The first meeting of the Dáil occurred in Dublin on 21 January 1919, in theMansion House,attended by27 members.The body was prohibited in the following September, and was forced underground, meeting in several locations.

Irish Free State (1922–1937)

Main article:Dáil Éireann (Irish Free State)

The Dáil of the Irish Republic was succeeded on 6 December 1922 by the Dáil of theIrish Free State.The Irish Free State, comprising the twenty-six southern and western counties of Ireland, was established under the 1921Anglo-Irish Treaty.Dáil Éireann was the house of representatives, described in the new constitution as a "Chamber of Deputies,of a bicameral legislature called theOireachtas of the Irish Free State.The first Dáil to exist under theConstitution of the Irish Free Statesucceeded theSecond Dáilof the Irish Republic and so was styled theThird Dáil.The Third Dáil, and every subsequent Dáil, has met in Leinster House.

Constitution of Ireland (since 1937)

TheConstitution of Ireland,adopted in 1937, established the modern Irish state, referred to as Ireland.Under the constitution a new legislature retained the titleOireachtas,and its lower house remainedDáil Éireann.The first Dáil to meet under the Constitution of Ireland was described as the Ninth Dáil.

During theCOVID-19 pandemicand the necessity forsocial distancing,the Dáil temporarily sat at theConvention Centre Dublinfrom June 2020 to July 2021.From September 2021, the Dáil returned to sitting in Leinster House.

Current composition

Main article:33rd Dáil

Party		Seats
	Fianna Fáil	35
	Sinn Féin	34
	Fine Gael	32
	Green	12
	Labour	6
	Social Democrats	6
	PBP–Solidarity	5
	Independent Ireland	3
	Aontú	1
	Right to Change	1
	Independent	19
	Ceann Comhairle	1
	Vacant	5

See also

• Bicameralism
• Dáil election results
• Elections in the Republic of Ireland
• History of the Republic of Ireland
• Politics of the Republic of Ireland
• Records of members of the Oireachtas

External links

• Houses of the Oireachtas– Official website
• Members of Dáil Éireann 1919 to the present– Oireachtas website