Members of the 25th Seanad
| 25th Seanad Éireann | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| Overview | |||||||||
| Jurisdiction | Ireland | ||||||||
| Meeting place | Leinster House | ||||||||
| Term | 8 June 2016 – | ||||||||
| Members | 60 | ||||||||
| Cathaoirleach | Denis O'Donovan | ||||||||
| Leas-Chathaoirleach | Paul Coghlan | ||||||||
| Leader of the Seanad | Jerry Buttimer | ||||||||
| Deputy Leader of the Seanad | Catherine Noone | ||||||||
| Leader of the Opposition | Catherine Ardagh | ||||||||
| Sessions | |||||||||
| |||||||||
This is a list of the members of the 25th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland. 49 Senators were elected in April 2016 when postal voting closed. The Taoiseach nominated an additional eleven members to the Seanad in May 2016. The Seanad election took place after the 2016 general election to Dáil Éireann.
Contents
1 Electoral system
2 Composition of the 25th Seanad
3 Technical groups
4 List of senators
5 Changes
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
Electoral system
There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 Senators are elected by the Vocational panels, 6 elected by the two University constituencies, and 11 are nominated by the Taoiseach. Three seats are elected by graduates of the National University of Ireland and three seats are elected by graduates and scholars of the University of Dublin.
Article 18.8 of the Constitution requires that an election for Seanad Éireann must take place not later than 90 days after a dissolution of the Dáil. On 9 February, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Alan Kelly signed the orders for the Seanad Election.
Nominations for the 43 Vocational panel seats closed at noon on 21 March 2016 and the full list of panel nominees was published in Iris Oifigiúil on 1 April 2016.[1]
Polls for these two university constituencies closed at 11.00 a.m. on Tuesday 26 April 2016.
Forty-three Vocational panel seats in the Seanad are filled by an electorate of public representatives, comprising the incoming 32nd Dáil, the outgoing 24th Seanad, and members of city and county councils, each of whom has one vote in each of the five panels. The total electorate was 1,155.[2][3] Polling closed at 11 a.m. on Monday 25 April 2016, with the count beginning immediately afterwards. A total of 1,124 of the electorate voted.[3] Each panel is subdivided into an Oireachtas ("inside") subpanel and Nominating Bodies ("outside") subpanel, and a portion of seats must be filled from each subpanel; John Dolan was elected despite having fewer votes than Tom Sheahan and Thomas Welby when they were eliminated, because they were on the inside panel and all remaining seats were reserved for the outside panel.[4][5]
Taoiseach Enda Kenny nominated 11 senators on 27 May 2016.[6]
The 25th Seanad first met at Leinster House on 8 June 2016 when Denis O'Donovan was elected as the new Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.[7]
The Government of the 32nd Dáil is a minority government of Fine Gael and several independent TDs, supported by Fianna Fáil. Similarly, Fine Gael do not hold a majority in the Seanad: and even if all 20 Fine Gael Senators vote in favour of a motion, and all 14 Fianna Fáil Senators abstain, four more votes from independent or opposition Senators are required to pass a motion. There have thus been several very close votes and defeats.[8] This is unusual, as the Senators nominated by the Taoiseach usually give the Government a majority.[9][10][11]
Composition of the 25th Seanad
Origin Party | Admin Panel[5] | Agri Panel[12] | Cult & Educ Panel[13] | Ind & Comm Panel[14] | Labour Panel[15] | NUI[16] | U Dublin | Nominated | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Gael | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 19 | ||
| Fianna Fáil | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | ||
| Sinn Féin | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | ||
| Labour Party | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||
| Green Party | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Independent | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 14 | ||
| Total | 7 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 60 | ||
Technical groups
The minimum parliamentary group size is five Senators, a threshold met by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, and the following three technical groups.[17] Apart from the Cathaoirleach, independent Marie-Louise O'Donnell is the only senator not a member of any group.[18]
- Independent group (9)
| Party | Name | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|
Independent (9) | Victor Boyhan | Agricultural Panel | |
Gerard Craughwell | Labour Panel | ||
Joan Freeman | Nominated by the Taoiseach | ||
Billy Lawless | Nominated by the Taoiseach | ||
Ian Marshall | Agricultural Panel | ||
Michael McDowell | National University of Ireland | ||
Rónán Mullen | National University of Ireland | ||
Pádraig Ó Céidigh | Nominated by the Taoiseach | ||
Brian Ó Domhnaill | Agricultural Panel | ||
All are independents, although not all independent senators are members of the group.
Civil Engagement group (6)
| Party | Name | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|
Independent (5) | Frances Black | Industrial and Commercial Panel | |
John Dolan | Administrative Panel | ||
Alice Mary Higgins | National University of Ireland | ||
Colette Kelleher | Nominated by the Taoiseach | ||
Lynn Ruane | University of Dublin | ||
Green Party (1) | Grace O'Sullivan | Agricultural Panel | |
All are first-time Oireachtas members and independents, except that O'Sullivan is in the Green Party.
- Technical group (5)
| Party | Name | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|
Labour Party (4) | Ivana Bacik | University of Dublin | |
Kevin Humphreys | Administrative Panel | ||
Ged Nash | Labour Panel | ||
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin | Industrial and Commercial Panel | ||
Independent (1) | David Norris | University of Dublin | |
All are in Labour except for independent Norris. Labour formed a party group until the retirement of Denis Landy left it below the five-senator threshold. It first formed a technical group with Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, who had resigned from Sinn Féin.[19] When Ó Clochartaigh resigned from the Seanad, Labour recruited Norris,[20] who had left the Independent group shortly after the 2016 election.[21]
List of senators
- Note: The entries for Senators who were elected or appointed to fill vacancies are shown in italics
| Name | Panel | Party | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Martin Conway | Administrative Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Mark Daly | Administrative Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
John Dolan | Administrative Panel | | Independent | Member of the Civil Engagement group |
Maura Hopkins | Administrative Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Kevin Humphreys | Administrative Panel | | Labour Party | |
Niall Ó Donnghaile | Administrative Panel | | Sinn Féin | |
Diarmuid Wilson | Administrative Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Victor Boyhan | Agricultural Panel | | Independent | Member of the Seanad Independent Group |
Paddy Burke | Agricultural Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Maria Byrne | Agricultural Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Rose Conway-Walsh | Agricultural Panel | | Sinn Féin | |
Paul Daly | Agricultural Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Denis Landy | Agricultural Panel | | Labour Party | Resigned from the Seanad on 28 November 2017[22] |
Tim Lombard | Agricultural Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh | Agricultural Panel | | Sinn Féin | Resigned from Sinn Féin on 30 November 2017; Resigned from the Seanad on 5 February 2018 |
Brian Ó Domhnaill | Agricultural Panel | | Fianna Fáil | Resigned from Fianna Fáil in December 2016[23]. Member of the Seanad Independent Group |
Denis O'Donovan | Agricultural Panel | | Fianna Fáil | Cathaoirleach |
Grace O'Sullivan | Agricultural Panel | | Green Party | Member of the Civil Engagement group |
Ian Marshall | Agricultural Panel | | Independent | Elected in a by-election on 27 April 2018, replacing Denis Landy[24]. Member of the Seanad Independent Group |
Anthony Lawlor | Agricultural Panel | | Fine Gael | Elected in a by-election on 27 April 2018, replacing Trevor Ó Clochartaigh[24] |
Lorraine Clifford-Lee | Cultural and Educational Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Gabrielle McFadden | Cultural and Educational Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Kieran O'Donnell | Cultural and Educational Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Keith Swanick | Cultural and Educational Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Fintan Warfield | Cultural and Educational Panel | | Sinn Féin | |
Catherine Ardagh | Industrial and Commercial Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Frances Black | Industrial and Commercial Panel | | Independent | Member of the Civil Engagement group |
Colm Burke | Industrial and Commercial Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Paul Coghlan | Industrial and Commercial Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Aidan Davitt | Industrial and Commercial Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Gerry Horkan | Industrial and Commercial Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn | Industrial and Commercial Panel | | Sinn Féin | |
Catherine Noone | Industrial and Commercial Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin | Industrial and Commercial Panel | | Labour Party | |
Jerry Buttimer | Labour Panel | | Fine Gael | Leader of the Seanad |
Gerard Craughwell | Labour Panel | | Independent | Member of the Seanad Independent Group |
Máire Devine | Labour Panel | | Sinn Féin | |
Robbie Gallagher | Labour Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Paul Gavan | Labour Panel | | Sinn Féin | |
Terry Leyden | Labour Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor | Labour Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Ged Nash | Labour Panel | | Labour Party | |
Joe O'Reilly | Labour Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Ned O'Sullivan | Labour Panel | | Fianna Fáil | |
Neale Richmond | Labour Panel | | Fine Gael | |
Alice Mary Higgins | National University of Ireland | | Independent | Member of the Civil Engagement group |
Michael McDowell | National University of Ireland | | Independent | Member of the Seanad Independent Group |
Rónán Mullen | National University of Ireland | | Independent | Member of the Seanad Independent Group |
Ivana Bacik | University of Dublin | | Labour Party | |
David Norris | University of Dublin | | Independent | Member of the Labour Technical Group |
Lynn Ruane | University of Dublin | | Independent | Member of the Civil Engagement group |
Ray Butler | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Fine Gael | |
Paudie Coffey | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Fine Gael | |
Frank Feighan | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Fine Gael | |
Joan Freeman | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Independent | Member of the Seanad Independent Group |
Colette Kelleher | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Independent | Member of the Civil Engagement group |
Billy Lawless | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Independent | Member of the Seanad Independent Group |
Michelle Mulherin | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Fine Gael | |
Pádraig Ó Céidigh | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Independent | Member of the Seanad Independent Group |
Marie-Louise O'Donnell | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Independent | |
John O'Mahony | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Fine Gael | |
James Reilly | Nominated by the Taoiseach | | Fine Gael | |
Changes
| Date | Panel | Gain | Loss | Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016-12-15 15 December 2016 | Agricultural Panel | Independent | Fianna Fáil | Brian Ó Domhnaill resigns from Fianna Fáil | ||
2017-11-28 28 November 2017 | Agricultural Panel | | Labour Party | Denis Landy resigns from the Seanad[22] | ||
2017-11-30 30 November 2017 | Agricultural Panel | Independent | Sinn Féin | Trevor Ó Clochartaigh resigns from Sinn Féin | ||
2018-02-05 5 February 2018 | Agricultural Panel | | Independent | Trevor Ó Clochartaigh resigns from the Seanad | ||
2018-04-27 27 April 2018 | Agricultural Panel | Independent | | Ian Marshall elected in a by-election.[24] | ||
2018-04-27 27 April 2018 | Agricultural Panel | Fine Gael | | Anthony Lawlor elected in a by-election.[24] | ||
2018-06-26 26 June 2018 | National University of Ireland | HDA | Independent | Rónán Mullen founds the Human Dignity Alliance. | ||
See also
- Members of the 32nd Dáil
- Government of the 32nd Dáil
References
^ "Panels of candidates prepared by the Seanad Returning Officer pursuant to Section 43 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947, as amended by the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1954" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil (27B). 1 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output .citation qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-maintdisplay:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em
^ "Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Acts 1947 and 1954: Electoral roll" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil (27A). 1 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^ ab O'Halloran, Marie (26 April 2016). "Sinn Féin candidates top Seanad poll on Agriculture panel". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 May 2016.the small electorate of 1,155. A total of 1,124 of the electorate voted ... Those entitled to vote on the vocational panels are the 158 new TDs, 53 of the 60 outgoing Senators (as seven were elected to the Dáil in the recent election) and 941 city and county councillors.
^ O'Halloran, Marie (28 April 2016). "Fine Gael transfers help Labour win four Seanad seats". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^ ab "Administrative Panel Full Results". seanadcount.ie. Oireachtas. April 2016. Archived from the original (Microsoft Excel) on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^ "Taoiseach's nominees to Seanad Éireann". 27 May 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
^ "First meeting of the 25th Seanad".
^ https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/government-seanad-defeat-as-ff-abstain-in-higgins-trade-motion-1.2818340
^ "Abortion forum scrapes through Seanad".
^ "Lively new Seanad not part of government deal".
^ "Seanad can hold balance of power in a minority Government, claims Norris - Independent.ie".
^ "Agricultural Panel Full Results". seanadcount.ie. Oireachtas. April 2016. Archived from the original (Microsoft Excel) on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^ "Cultural and Educational Panel Full Results". seanadcount.ie. Oireachtas. April 2016. Archived from the original (Microsoft Excel) on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^ "Industrial and Commercial Panel Full Results". seanadcount.ie. Oireachtas. April 2016. Archived from the original (Microsoft Excel) on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^ "Labour Panel Full Results". seanadcount.ie. Oireachtas. April 2016. Archived from the original (Microsoft Excel) on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^ "National University of Ireland Elections Page". NUI. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
^ "Seanad Éireann - Standing Orders relative to Public Business" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
^ O'Donnell, Marie Louise (21 March 2018). "Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Committee Stage". Seanad debates. kildarestreet.com. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
^ O'Halloran, Marie (13 December 2017). "Labour Senators and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh form technical group". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
^ Bacik, Ivana (7 March 2018). "Order of Business". Seanad debates. KildareStreet.com. Retrieved 28 March 2018.Those of us in the Seanad Technical Group are really delighted that Senator David Norris will be joining us.
^ Norris, David (29 June 2016). "Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage". Seanad debates. KildareStreet.com. Retrieved 28 March 2018.I also thank the Independent group of Senators, which I left with some delight yesterday
^ ab "Tipperary senator Denis Landy retires from Seanad on health grounds". Tipperary Star. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
^ https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fianna-fil-senator-resigns-after-ethics-breach-35298356.html
^ abcd "Unionist farmer takes one of two Seanad seats". RTÉ News. 27 April 2018.
External links
How the Seanad is Elected – Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
