Oireachtas

The Oireachtas is the parliament of Ireland. It is made up of three parts: the president of Ireland, a lower house called Dáil Éireann, and an upper house called Seanad Éireann. Together, these three parts form a system where laws and important decisions for the country are discussed and made.

The two houses of the Oireachtas meet in a big building called Leinster House in Dublin. This building is an old ducal palace from the eighteenth century. The Dáil Éireann is the more powerful house because its members are chosen directly by the people in elections.

The Oireachtas plays a key role in making sure Ireland runs smoothly. It helps create laws, manage government money, and represent the voices of the Irish people. The president of Ireland also has a special role in the Oireachtas, helping to guide and approve important decisions.

Etymology

The word oireachtas comes from an old Irish word aireacht or oireacht, which means a group of free people meeting together to talk about important things. This word comes from an even older word, airig, meaning a free person. The first time this name was used for a group that makes laws was in the Irish Free State.

Composition

The Dáil Éireann is chosen by all Irish citizens who are at least eighteen years old who live in Ireland. The Dáil can last up to five years, but the president can end it earlier if asked by the Taoiseach, who leads the government. The Dáil has 174 members.

The Seanad has 60 senators. Some are chosen by local leaders and lawmakers, some are chosen by the Taoiseach, and others are chosen by university students. The president of Ireland is chosen every seven years and can serve up to two terms. If there is only one person running for president, they will automatically become president without a vote.

Role

To become a law in Ireland, a bill must be approved by both the Dáil and usually the Seanad. After this, the president must sign it. Some bills need a vote from the people before the president can sign them. The president usually signs all laws approved by the houses of the Oireachtas, but can check some bills to make sure they follow the rules of the country.

The main power of the Oireachtas is to make laws. This includes approving money matters and suggesting changes to the constitution, which also need a vote from the people. The Oireachtas can also create smaller groups to help make laws and allow international agreements to become part of Ireland’s laws.

However, there are limits. Laws cannot go against the constitution or European Union rules. The Oireachtas cannot make laws that are unfair or go against past agreements. It also cannot bring back the death penalty, even in special situations.

Main article: Acts of the Oireachtas

Powers

The Oireachtas can:

• Make laws, including important money laws.
• Create smaller groups to help make laws.
• Suggest changes to the constitution, which need a vote from the people.
• Organize the military.
• Allow international agreements to become part of Ireland’s laws.
• Make laws that affect other countries when needed.
• In special times of danger, make almost any law except for the death penalty.

Limitations

Laws cannot:

• Go against the constitution.
• Go against European Union rules.
• Make something a crime after it already happened.
• Bring back the death penalty, even in special times.

Committees

Main article: Committees of the Oireachtas

The Oireachtas has several joint committees with members from both of its houses. Today, there are fifteen of these committees, covering topics like farming, children’s issues, climate change, education, business, European affairs, money matters, foreign affairs, health, housing, peace agreements, justice, culture, community development, and transportation. There is also a group that helps organize the chairs of these committees.

Predecessors

The Oireachtas has been the title of two parliaments in Irish history: the current Oireachtas of Ireland, since 1937, and, immediately before that, the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1937.

The earliest parliament in Ireland was the Parliament of Ireland, founded in the thirteenth century. It was the main law-making body for the part of Ireland controlled by England, starting with Dublin and nearby areas, and later growing to cover the whole island. For many years, it had to follow the rules of the English, and later British, Parliament. After gaining more freedom in 1782, it became known as Grattan's Parliament. In 1801, it ended when Ireland joined with Britain in the Act of Union.

In 1919, Irish republicans created a new single-house parliament called Dáil Éireann. In 1920, the British government set up another parliament for Southern Ireland, but it was mostly ignored. This parliament stopped existing in 1922 when the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State began under the Constitution of the Irish Free State. The current Oireachtas started in 1937 with the adoption of the Constitution of Ireland.

Broadcasting

The Oireachtas started broadcasting important speeches on radio and television in 1963, beginning with a visit from John F. Kennedy. Regular radio broadcasts of meetings began in 1986, and television coverage started in the early 1990s. Since 2005, people can watch these meetings online.

There is a special television channel called Oireachtas TV that shows live parliamentary proceedings. It began as a pilot service in 2011 and became a full channel in 2014, available to millions of homes in Ireland. In 2012, the Oireachtas also started an online consultation to gather public opinions.

Houses of the Oireachtas family day

On 28 June 2008, the first Houses of the Oireachtas family day was held. This event, led by the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, John O'Donoghue, and the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, Pat Moylan, aimed to help people learn more about the work of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The day included tours of both chambers, talks about the history of the Oireachtas, actors reciting important political speeches, and a hot air balloon to remember a flight that happened in 1785 from Leinster Lawn. The family day happened again in 2009 but has not been held since then.

Northern Ireland representation

Ireland's constitution says that its laws don’t apply to Northern Ireland until the whole country is united again. Because of this, Northern Ireland has not been represented in the lower house of Ireland’s parliament, called the Dáil.

Some politicians have suggested letting Northern Ireland representatives speak in the Dáil, but many others disagreed. Starting in 2011, Northern Ireland members of the European Parliament could join meetings of a special committee in the upper house, called the Seanad, just like members from Ireland. This changed in 2020 when the United Kingdom left the European Union, and these representatives could no longer attend.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission

The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission was set up in 2003 to help the two houses of Ireland’s parliament work together better. Before this, they used a joint committee, but now the Commission has a formal structure. It employs support staff, like ushers and translation workers, who are part of the Civil Service of the State. The Commission is led by the Ceann Comhairle and clerk of the lower house, with members including the Cathaoirleach of the upper house, someone chosen by the Minister for Finance, and others selected by both houses. The Commission also updates the official standard form of the Irish language through its translation department.