Seanad Éireann

Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
27th Seanad
Type
Type	Upper house of the Oireachtas
History
Established	29 December 1937 (Modern form)
Preceded by	Irish Free State Seanad
New session started	12 February 2025
Leadership
Cathaoirleach	Mark Daly, FF ; since 12 February 2025
Leas-Chathaoirleach	Maria Byrne, FG ; since 19 February 2025
Leader of the Seanad	Seán Kyne, FG ; since 12 February 2025
Deputy leader	Fiona O'Loughlin, FF ; since 12 February 2025
Opposition leader	Conor Murphy, SF ; since 12 February 2025
Structure
Seats	60
Political groups	Government (36) Fianna Fáil (19) Fine Gael (17) Opposition (24) Sinn Féin (6) Independent Group (8) Independent (8) Civil Engagement (4) Independent (4) Cross-Party Group (4) Labour (2) Green (1) Social Democrats (1) Aontú (1) Independent (1)
Committees	6 Administration ; Consolidation Bills ; Members' Interests of Seanad Éireann ; Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight (Seanad) ; Seanad Public Consultation ; Selection ;
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 18−19, Constitution of Ireland
Salary	€79,614 per year plus expenses
Elections
Voting system	Indirect election
Last election	29−30 January 2025
Next election	2030
Meeting place
	Seanad Chamber; Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin
Website
	www.oireachtas.ie
Constitution
	Constitution of Ireland
Rules
	Seanad Éireann – Standing Orders Relative to Public Business 2025
Footnotes
	1 2 3 Technical group formed for speaking rights. This is not a political alliance, but a parliamentary group.; ↑ Includes Rónán Mullen who is a member of the Human Dignity Alliance party but was elected as an independent candidate.; ↑ 6 seats elected by graduates of DU and NUI, 43 seats elected indirectly, and 11 are nominated by the Taoiseach.;

53°20′26″N 6°15′14″W / 53.34055°N 6.254021°W / 53.34055; -6.254021 Seanad Éireann (/ˈʃænəd ˈɛərən, ˈʃænəð/ ^ⓘ SHAN-əd(h) AIR-ən; Irish: [ˈʃan̪ˠəd̪ˠ ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ]; "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 (seanadóirí in Irish, singular: seanadóir). 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.

[fn1-1] 1 2 3 Technical group formed for speaking rights. This is not a political alliance, but a parliamentary group.

[2] Includes Rónán Mullen who is a member of the Human Dignity Alliance party but was elected as an independent candidate.

[5] 6 seats elected by graduates of DU and NUI, 43 seats elected indirectly, and 11 are nominated by the Taoiseach.