Oireachtas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oireachtas |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses |
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| History | |
| Established | 29 December 1937 (Modern form) |
| Preceded by | Irish Free State Oireachtas |
| Leadership | |
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Michael D. Higgins
Since 11 November 2011 |
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Verona Murphy
Since 18 December 2024 |
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John McGuinness, FF
Since 19 February 2025 |
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Cathaoirleach
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Mark Daly, FF
Since 12 February 2025 |
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Leas-Chathaoirleach
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Maria Byrne, FG
Since 19 February 2025 |
| Structure | |
| Seats |
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political groups
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Current Composition
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political groups
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Current Composition
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Joint committees
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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 |
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Length of term
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Not exceeding 5 years |
| Authority | Articles 15−27, Constitution of Ireland |
| Salary | |
| Elections | |
| Proportional representation (single transferable vote) | |
| Indirect election | |
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last election
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29 November 2024 |
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last election
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30 January 2025 |
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Next general election
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By 2030 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin | |
| Constitution | |
| Constitution of Ireland | |
The Oireachtas (pronounced like "Eh-ruk-tas") is the name for the parliament of Ireland. Think of it as the main group of people who make laws for the country. It has three parts: the President of Ireland, and two houses called Dáil Éireann (which is like a House of Representatives) and Seanad Éireann (which is like a Senate).
These important groups meet in a building called Leinster House in Dublin. The Dáil Éireann is the most powerful part because its members are chosen directly by the people of Ireland.
Contents
- What Does Oireachtas Mean?
- Who Makes Up the Oireachtas?
- How Laws Are Made in Ireland
- Working Together: Oireachtas Committees
- A Look Back: Earlier Parliaments
- Watching and Listening: Oireachtas TV
- A Fun Day at Leinster House
- Northern Ireland and the Oireachtas
- Behind the Scenes: The Oireachtas Commission
- See also
What Does Oireachtas Mean?
The word Oireachtas comes from an old Irish word, airecht, which meant a meeting or assembly of free people. It was first used for a law-making group in the Irish Free State.
Who Makes Up the Oireachtas?
The Oireachtas is made up of three main parts: the President, the Dáil Éireann, and the Seanad Éireann.
Dáil Éireann: The People's Choice
The Dáil Éireann is where most of the power lies. Its 174 members are chosen directly by Irish citizens who are at least 18 years old and live in Ireland. Even some non-Irish citizens, like British citizens, can vote. Dáil elections use a special system called proportional representation with a single transferable vote. This system helps make sure that smaller groups also get a fair chance to have their voices heard. A Dáil term usually lasts up to five years, but the President can end it sooner if the Taoiseach (Ireland's head of government) asks. The last general election for the Dáil was on 29 November 2024.
Seanad Éireann: The Senate
The Seanad Éireann is also known as the Senate. It has 60 members, but they are not chosen directly by the public. Instead, 43 senators are elected by local councillors and other politicians. The Taoiseach appoints 11 senators, and six are elected by people who are graduates of certain universities. The last Seanad election was on 30 January 2025.
The President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is elected by the people every seven years and can serve a maximum of two terms. If only one person runs for President, they are automatically elected without a vote. The President has important duties, like signing bills into law.
How Laws Are Made in Ireland
For a new idea to become a law in Ireland, it first needs to be approved by both the Dáil Éireann and, usually, the Seanad Éireann. After both houses agree, the President of Ireland must sign it. However, the Dáil is more powerful and can sometimes pass a bill even if the Seanad doesn't agree.
If a bill wants to change the Constitution of Ireland, it must also be approved by the people in a special vote called a referendum before the President signs it. The President usually has to sign all laws approved by the Oireachtas. However, the President can ask the Supreme Court to check if a bill follows the Constitution before signing it. This means the Dáil is the most important part of Ireland's law-making body.
What the Oireachtas Can Do (Powers)
The Oireachtas has special powers, including:
- Making new laws for the country.
- Approving the country's budget and financial plans.
- Suggesting changes to the Constitution, which then need a public vote (referendum).
- Creating and managing the country's armed forces.
- Allowing international agreements to become part of Irish law.
- Making laws that can apply outside of Ireland in some cases, similar to other countries.
- Passing almost any law it needs during a state of emergency, except for laws that would bring back the death penalty.
What the Oireachtas Cannot Do (Limitations)
There are also limits to the Oireachtas's power:
- Any law that goes against the Constitution of Ireland is not valid.
- EU law is more important than Oireachtas laws if there's a conflict.
- It cannot make something a crime if it wasn't illegal when it happened (this is called making laws retrospective).
- It cannot create any law that allows for the death penalty, even during an emergency.
Working Together: Oireachtas Committees
The Oireachtas has many special groups called joint committees. These committees include members from both the Dáil and the Seanad. They work together to study specific topics in detail, like agriculture, education, health, or the environment. This helps them make better decisions and laws. For example, there are committees for:
- Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Children, Disability, Equality and Integration
- Climate Action
- Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Health
A Look Back: Earlier Parliaments
The word Oireachtas has been used for Ireland's parliament since 1937. Before that, from 1922 to 1937, the parliament was called the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State.
Ireland has a long history of parliaments. The very first one, the Parliament of Ireland, started in the 1200s! It governed the part of Ireland controlled by England. For a long time, this parliament had to follow the rules of the English (and later British) Parliament. It had a King, a House of Lords, and a House of Commons. In 1800, this parliament voted to join with Great Britain, and so it ended on January 1, 1801.
Later, in 1919, Irish republicans created their own parliament called Dáil Éireann. At the same time, the British government tried to set up another parliament called the Parliament of Southern Ireland, but most Irish politicians didn't participate.
Finally, in 1922, the Constitution of the Irish Free State created the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State. This parliament had a King (represented by a Governor-General), a Dáil, and a Seanad. However, the Seanad was removed in May 1936, and the King's role was also changed in December 1936. The modern Oireachtas we know today began in December 1937 when the Constitution of Ireland was adopted.
Watching and Listening: Oireachtas TV
You can watch and listen to what happens in the Oireachtas! The first time Oireachtas events were broadcast was in 1963, when John F. Kennedy gave a speech. Regular radio broadcasts started in October 1986, and TV coverage began in the early 1990s.
Since 2005, you can even watch the Dáil and Seanad meetings online. In 2011, a special TV channel called Oireachtas TV started. It broadcasts meetings from the Dáil, Seanad, and committees, giving everyone a chance to see how their government works. It's available for free on many TV providers in Ireland.
A Fun Day at Leinster House
On June 28, 2008, the Oireachtas held its first "Family Day." This event was created by the leaders of the Dáil and Seanad to help people learn more about their parliament. Families could take tours of the meeting rooms, listen to talks about the Oireachtas's history, and even see actors perform famous political speeches. There was even a hot air balloon, just like one that flew from Leinster House in 1785! Another Family Day happened in 2009, but it has not been held since then.
Northern Ireland and the Oireachtas
The Constitution of Ireland says that the Oireachtas has the right to make laws for the whole island of Ireland. However, laws made by the Oireachtas do not apply to Northern Ireland. Because of this, people from Northern Ireland do not have elected representatives in the Dáil Éireann.
However, sometimes the Taoiseach (Ireland's head of government) has appointed people from Northern Ireland to be among the 11 nominated senators in the Seanad Éireann. There have also been discussions about allowing politicians from Northern Ireland to speak in Dáil debates, but these ideas have not been widely supported.
Behind the Scenes: The Oireachtas Commission
To help both the Dáil and Seanad work smoothly, there's a group called the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. This group was set up in 2003. It handles practical things like managing the Leinster House building and employing staff, such as ushers and translators. The leader of the Dáil (the Ceann Comhairle) is the chairperson of this Commission. This Commission also helps update the official standard form of the Irish language.
See also
In Spanish: Oireachtas para niños
- Bicameralism
- List of acts of the Oireachtas
- Records of members of the Oireachtas
- Families in the Oireachtas
