Seanad Éireann facts for kids
Seanad Éireann (which means Senate of Ireland) is like the second house of the Irish parliament, called the Oireachtas. It works alongside the main house, Dáil Éireann, to help make laws for the country.
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What Seanad Éireann Does
The main job of Seanad Éireann is to look over and change laws that come from Dáil Éireann. Think of it as a review team for new laws.
Making and Changing Laws
The Seanad can start new laws or suggest changes to them. However, there's one big exception: laws about raising taxes or spending money (called Money Bills). These important money laws must always start in Dáil Éireann. The Seanad can suggest changes to these money laws, but it can't force those changes to happen.
Slowing Down New Laws
Seanad Éireann helps make sure laws aren't passed too quickly. Every new law must be looked at by the Seanad. This acts as a safety check, making sure that laws are carefully thought about before they become official.
Debating Important Topics
Senators in Seanad Éireann also discuss important issues facing Ireland. They can talk about these topics with more freedom. This is because if the government loses a vote in the Seanad, it might be a bit embarrassing, but it doesn't usually mean new elections have to be called. If the government loses a vote in Dáil Éireann, it could lead to a new election.
How Long Senators Serve
Members of Seanad Éireann serve from their first meeting until the day before the next Seanad election. Seanad elections must happen within 90 days after Dáil Éireann is dissolved (meaning the Dáil has ended its term). The Seanad is always elected after the Dáil, because the new members of Dáil Éireann get to vote in the Seanad election.
Who Are the Senators?
There are sixty Senators in Seanad Éireann. They become members in two main ways:
- 11 Senators are chosen by the new Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister) after a general election.
- 49 Senators are elected from special lists of candidates.
How Senators Are Elected
Most Senators are elected by a small group of people.
University Senators
- Three Senators are elected by people who have a degree from the National University of Ireland.
- Three more are elected by people with a degree from the University of Dublin.
Any Irish citizen with a degree from these universities can vote for these Senators.
Panel Senators
The other 43 Senators are elected from five special groups, called panels. These panels represent different areas of Irish life:
- Culture and Education: This panel includes people involved in the national language, arts, education, and other professions.
- Farming and Fishing: This panel covers agriculture, related interests, and fisheries.
- Workers: This panel represents people in organized or unorganized labor.
- Business and Finance: This panel includes people from industry, commerce, banking, finance, accounting, engineering, and architecture.
- Public Services: This panel represents people in public administration and social services, including volunteer work.
At least 5 Senators must be elected from each of these panels, but no more than 11 can come from any single panel.
Who Votes for Panel Senators?
Only about 1,000 people get to vote for these 43 Senators. These voters include:
- All the members of the newly elected Dáil Éireann.
- All the members of the previous Seanad Éireann.
- Members of city and county councils across Ireland.
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