25th Seanad

25th Seanad
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Overview
Legislative bodySeanad Éireann
JurisdictionIreland
Meeting placeLeinster House
Term8 June 2016 – 27 March 2020
Government
Members60
CathaoirleachDenis O'Donovan
Leas-ChathaoirleachPaul Coghlan
Leader of the
Seanad		Jerry Buttimer
Deputy leader of the SeanadCatherine Noone
Leader of the
Opposition		Catherine Ardagh
Sessions
1st8 June 2016 – 21 July 2016
2nd28 September 2016 – 20 July 2017
3rd26 September 2017 – 17 July 2018
4th19 September 2018 – 12 July 2019
5th24 September 2019 – 27 March 2020

The 25th Seanad was in office from 2016 to 2020. An election to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), followed the 2016 general election to the 32nd Dáil on 26 February. There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels by serving politicians, for which polling closed on 25 April; 6 were elected in two university constituencies, for which polling closed on 26 April; and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach (Enda Kenny) on 27 May 2016. It remained in office until the close of poll for the 26th Seanad in March 2020. Padraig Mac Lochlainn was the first Irish Traveller to be a member of Seanad Éireann.

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 Dublin University.

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 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 was a minority government of Fine Gael and several independent TDs, supported by Fianna Fáil. Similarly, Fine Gael did not hold a majority in the Seanad: and even if all 20 Fine Gael Senators voted in favour of a motion, and all 14 Fianna Fáil Senators abstained, four more votes from independent or opposition Senators were required to pass a motion. There were several very close votes and defeats.[8] This was unusual, as the Senators nominated by the Taoiseach usually give the Government a majority.[9][10][11]

Composition of the 25th Seanad

Origin
Party
 Vocational panels NUI[12] DU Nominated Total
Admin[5] Agri[13] Cult & Educ[14] Ind & Comm[15] Labour[16]
● Fine Gael 2 3 2 3 3 0 0 6 19
C 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

Government party denoted with bullet (●).
Party giving confidence and supply denoted by C.

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 was 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
Rónán Mullen National University
Pádraig Ó Céidigh Nominated by the Taoiseach
Brian Ó Domhnaill Agricultural Panel

All were independents, although not all independent senators were members of the group.

Civil Engagement group (5)
Party Name Constituency
Independent (5) Frances Black Industrial and Commercial Panel
John Dolan Administrative Panel
Alice-Mary Higgins National University
Colette Kelleher Nominated by the Taoiseach
Lynn Ruane Dublin University

All members of the Civil Engagement group were first-time Oireachtas members and independents. This group included Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) until her election to the European Parliament in May 2019.

Technical group (5)
Party Name Constituency
Labour Party (4) Ivana Bacik Dublin University
Kevin Humphreys Administrative Panel
Ged Nash Labour Panel
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin Industrial and Commercial Panel
Independent (1) David Norris Dublin University

All were 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  
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 Elected to Dáil at the 2020 general election
Paul Daly Agricultural Panel   Fianna Fáil  
Denis Landy Agricultural Panel   Labour 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 Member of the Civil Engagement group. Elected to the European Parliament in May 2019.
Ian Marshall Agricultural Panel   Ind. Unionist 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]
Pippa Hackett Agricultural Panel   Green Elected in a by-election on 1 November 2019, replacing Grace O'Sullivan
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 Elected to Dáil at the 2020 general election
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 Elected to Dáil at the 2020 general election
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 Elected to Dáil at the 2020 general election
Catherine Noone Industrial and Commercial Panel   Fine Gael  
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin Industrial and Commercial Panel   Labour Elected to Dáil at the 2020 general election
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 Elected to Dáil at the 2020 general election
Ged Nash Labour Panel   Labour Elected to Dáil at the 2020 general election
Joe O'Reilly Labour Panel   Fine Gael  
Ned O'Sullivan Labour Panel   Fianna Fáil  
Neale Richmond Labour Panel   Fine Gael Elected to Dáil at the 2020 general election
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 Dublin University   Labour  
David Norris Dublin University   Independent Member of the Labour Technical Group
Lynn Ruane Dublin University   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 Elected to Dáil at the 2020 general election
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  
Seán Kyne Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fine Gael Nominated on 20 February 2020 to fill vacancy

Changes

Date Panel Loss Gain Note
15 December 2016 Agricultural Panel Fianna Fáil Independent Brian Ó Domhnaill resigns from Fianna Fáil
28 November 2017 Agricultural Panel Labour   Denis Landy resigns from the Seanad[22]
30 November 2017 Agricultural Panel Sinn Féin Independent Trevor Ó Clochartaigh resigns from Sinn Féin
5 February 2018 Agricultural Panel Independent   Trevor Ó Clochartaigh resigns from the Seanad
27 April 2018 Agricultural Panel   Ind. Unionist Ian Marshall elected in a by-election.[24]
27 April 2018 Agricultural Panel   Fine Gael Anthony Lawlor elected in a by-election.[24]
1 July 2019 Agricultural Panel Green   Grace O'Sullivan elected to the European Parliament in May 2019.
1 November 2019 Agricultural Panel   Green Pippa Hackett elected unopposed in a by-election.
8 February 2020 Industrial and Commercial Panel Fine Gael   Colm Burke elected to the 33rd Dáil.
8 February 2020 Agricultural Panel Sinn Féin   Rose Conway-Walsh elected to the 33rd Dáil.
8 February 2020 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fine Gael   Frank Feighan elected to the 33rd Dáil.
8 February 2020 Industrial and Commercial Panel Sinn Féin   Pádraig Mac Lochlainn elected to the 33rd Dáil.
8 February 2020 Labour Panel Fianna Fáil   Jennifer Murnane O'Connor elected to the 33rd Dáil.
8 February 2020 Labour Panel Labour   Ged Nash elected to the 33rd Dáil.
8 February 2020 Industrial and Commercial Panel Labour   Aodhán Ó Ríordáin elected to the 33rd Dáil.
8 February 2020 Cultural and Educational Panel Fine Gael   Kieran O'Donnell elected to the 33rd Dáil.
8 February 2020 Labour Panel Fine Gael   Neale Richmond elected to the 33rd Dáil.
20 February 2020 Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fine Gael Seán Kyne nominated to fill vacancy, replacing Frank Feighan.

References

  1. ^ "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. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Acts 1947 and 1954: Electoral roll" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil (27A). 1 April 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b O'Halloran, Marie (26 April 2016). "Sinn Féin candidates top Seanad poll on Agriculture panel". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. 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.
  4. ^ O'Halloran, Marie (28 April 2016). "Fine Gael transfers help Labour win four Seanad seats". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Administrative Panel Full Results". seanadcount.ie. Oireachtas. April 2016. Archived from the original (Microsoft Excel) on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Taoiseach's nominees to Seanad Éireann". 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Jury is out on delivery of a new and improved Seanad". independent. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  8. ^ O'Regan, Michael. "Government Seanad defeat as FF abstain in Higgins trade motion". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  9. ^ Coyne, Ellen. "Abortion forum scrapes through Seanad". Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Lively new Seanad not part of government deal". Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Seanad can hold balance of power in a minority Government, claims Norris - Independent.ie". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  12. ^ "National University of Ireland Elections Page". NUI. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Agricultural Panel Full Results". seanadcount.ie. Oireachtas. April 2016. Archived from the original (Microsoft Excel) on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "Labour Panel Full Results". seanadcount.ie. Oireachtas. April 2016. Archived from the original (Microsoft Excel) on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Seanad Éireann - Standing Orders relative to Public Business" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 June 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  18. ^ O'Donnell, Marie Louise (21 March 2018). "Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Committee Stage". Seanad debates. kildarestreet.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  19. ^ O'Halloran, Marie (13 December 2017). "Labour Senators and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh form technical group". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  20. ^ Bacik, Ivana (7 March 2018). "Order of Business". Seanad debates. KildareStreet.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2018. Those of us in the Seanad Technical Group are really delighted that Senator David Norris will be joining us.
  21. ^ Norris, David (29 June 2016). "Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage". Seanad debates. KildareStreet.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018. I also thank the Independent group of Senators, which I left with some delight yesterday
  22. ^ a b "Tipperary senator Denis Landy retires from Seanad on health grounds". Tipperary Star. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  23. ^ "Fianna Fáil Senator resigns after ethics breach". independent. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  24. ^ a b c d "Unionist farmer takes one of two Seanad seats". RTÉ News. 27 April 2018. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2018.