26th Seanad

26th Seanad
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Overview
Legislative bodySeanad Éireann
JurisdictionIreland
Meeting placeLeinster House
Election30–31 March 2020
Government
Members60
CathaoirleachJerry Buttimer (FG)
Leas-ChathaoirleachMark Daly (FF)
Leader of the SeanadLisa Chambers (FF)
Deputy leader of the SeanadSeán Kyne (FG)
Leader of the OppositionRebecca Moynihan (Lab)
Sessions
1st29 June 2020 – 31 July 2020
2nd16 September 2020 – 16 July 2021
3rd21 September 2021 – 14 July 2022
4th14 September 2022 – 13 July 2023
5th26 September 2023 – 17 July 2024
6th24 September 2024 –

The 26th Seanad has been in office since June 2020. The 2020 Seanad election followed the 2020 general election to the 33rd Dáil on 8 February. The Constitution of Ireland required a general election for Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), to take place no later than ninety days after the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil on 14 January 2020. There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels by serving politicians, for which polling closed on 30 March 2020; 6 were elected in two university constituencies, for which polling closed on 31 March 2020; and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach (Micheál Martin) on 27 June 2020. It will remain in office until the close of poll for the 27th Seanad, which is scheduled for 30 January 2025.

Of the 60 members, twenty-four (40%) are women, and thirty (50%) are first-time Senators. Five Senators (8%) are members of the LGBT+ community.[1] 33 members (55%) of the 26th Seanad were unsuccessful candidates at the 2020 general election, 10 of those (17%) being outgoing TDs who failed to get re-elected. In total 41 members (68%) of the 26th Seanad had contested general elections in the past, while 15 (25%) were former TDs. Eileen Flynn is the first Irish Traveller to be a member of the Seanad.[2]

Electoral system

There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 Senators are elected by vocational panels, six elected by the two university constituencies, and eleven are nominated by the Taoiseach. Three seats are elected by graduates of the four colleges of the National University of Ireland (University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Galway and Maynooth University) and three seats are elected by graduates of Dublin University (as Trinity College Dublin is the sole constituent college, this is often referred to as the Trinity College constituency).[3]

Article 18.8 of the Constitution requires that an election for Seanad Éireann take place not later than 90 days after a dissolution of the Dáil. On 21 January, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy signed the orders for the Seanad election.[4]

Timetable

  • 24 February 2020: deadline for proposals for nominations to the vocational panels by nominating bodies (civic society groups)
  • 2 March 2020: deadline for proposals for nominations to the vocational panels by Members of the Oireachtas (President of Ireland, TDs and Senators)
  • 9 March 2020: Seanad Returning Officer completed the panels of candidates
  • 16 March 2020: postal balloting began
  • 30 March 2020, 11 a.m.: polling closed for the five special panels, counting of votes commences[5][6]
  • 31 March 2020, 11 a.m.: polling closed in the two university constituencies
  • 27 June 2020: Taoiseach's nominees announced

Cathaoirleach

The coalition agreement between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party saw a rotation between the role of Taoiseach between the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin served as Taoiseach from June 2020 to December 2022, with Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar serving as Taoiseach from that date, with Simon Harris succeeding as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach in April 2024. Similarly, the agreement provided that the position of Cathaoirleach in the Seanad would rotate between the parties.

On 29 June 2020, Mark Daly was proposed as Cathaoirleach by Lisa Chambers (FF) and seconded by Denis O'Donovan (FF). Niall Ó Donnghaile (SF) was proposed by Paul Gavan (SF) and seconded by Elisha McCallion (SF). Daly was elected by a vote of 46 to 6.[7] On 7 July 2020, Jerry Buttimer (FG) was proposed as Leas-Cathaoirleach by Martin Conway (FG) and seconded by Diarmuid Wilson (FF). Fintan Warfield (SF) was proposed by Niall Ó Donnghaile (SF) and seconded by Lynn Boylan (SF). Buttimer was elected by a vote of 43 to 6.[8]

On 21 August 2020, following his involvement in the Oireachtas Golf Society scandal, Buttimer resigned as Leas-Cathaoirleach.[9] On 18 September 2020, Joe O'Reilly (FG) was proposed as Leas-Cathaoirleach by Regina Doherty (FG) and seconded by John McGahon (FG). Fintan Warfield (SF) was proposed by Niall Ó Donnghaile (SF) and seconded by Elisha McCallion (SF). O'Reilly was elected to the position.[10]

On 16 December 2022, Daly resigned as Cathaoirleach. Jerry Buttimer was proposed by Regina Doherty and seconded by Diarmuid Wilson. Victor Boyhan (Ind) was proposed by Alice-Mary Higgins (Ind) and seconded by Tom Clonan (Ind). Buttimer was elected by a vote of 35 to 8.[1] This was followed by the election of Mark Daly as Leas-Cathaoirleach. He was proposed by Lisa Chambers (FF) and seconded by Regina Doherty and elected unopposed.[11][12]

Composition of the 26th Seanad

Results of 2020 Seanad election

Origin
Party
 Vocational panels NUI DU Nominated Total
Admin Agri Cult & Educ Ind & Comm Labour
● Fianna Fáil 3 4 2 3 4 0 0 4 20
● Fine Gael 2 3 2 2 3 0 0 4 16
Sinn Féin 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 5
Labour Party 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 5
● Green Party 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 4
Independent 0 1 0 2 1 3 2 1 10
Total 7 11 5 9 11 3 3 11 60

Government parties are denoted with bullets (●)

Effect of changes

This table shows the political composition of the 26th Seanad at the start of its term and at the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil.

  June 2020 Nov. 2024
Fianna Fáil 20 20
Fine Gael 16 16
Sinn Féin 5 2
Labour 5 4
Green 4 5
Independent 10 11
Vacant — 2
Total 60

Leadership

Government

On its first sitting of the 26th Seanad, the government had a majority of 40 to 20. As of November 2024, the government's majority is 41 to 17, with two vacancies.

The political leadership of the Seanad rotated on 16 December 2022, the day before the rotation of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste. Outgoing Leader of the Seanad, Regina Doherty becoming Deputy Leader, and outgoing Deputy Leader Lisa Chambers becoming Leader. Outgoing Government Chief Whip of the Seanad, Senator Seán Kyne of Fine Gael also swapped positions with Seanad Government Deputy Chief Whip Senator Robbie Gallagher, who took over as Seanad Chief Whip. The leadership of the Green Party group in the Seanad also changed with Senator Pauline O'Reilly stepping down as group leader to be replaced by Senator Róisín Garvey.

Main article: Government of the 33rd Dáil

Opposition

See also: Opposition Front Bench (Ireland)

List of senators

^ +: New senator.
^ ‡: Previously served as member of the Seanad non-consecutively to the current consecutive terms of office.
^ #: Member of the 32nd Dáil who was not re-elected at the 2020 general election.

Panel Name Portrait Party affiliation
(Technical group) 		Assumed office
Start of Seanad term Current
Administrative Panel Garret Ahearn[+] Fine Gael 29 June 2020
Martin Conway Fine Gael 25 May 2011
Mark Daly Fianna Fáil 13 September 2007
Rebecca Moynihan[+] Labour 29 June 2020
Niall Ó Donnghaile Sinn Féin Resigned in 2024 8 June 2016
Mal O'Hara[+] Elected in 2024 by-election Green 8 April 2024
Fiona O'Loughlin[+][#] Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020
Diarmuid Wilson Fianna Fáil 12 September 2002
Agricultural Panel Niall Blaney[+] Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020
Victor Boyhan Independent 8 June 2016
Lynn Boylan[+] Sinn Féin 29 June 2020
Paddy Burke Fine Gael 17 February 1993
Maria Byrne Elected in 2021 by-election Fine Gael 21 April 2021[‡]
Paul Daly Fianna Fáil 8 June 2016
Michael D'Arcy[#] Fine Gael Resigned in 2020 29 June 2020[‡]
Pippa Hackett Green 5 November 2019
Annie Hoey[+] Labour 29 June 2020
Tim Lombard Fine Gael 8 June 2016
Eugene Murphy[+][#] Fianna Fáil Independent
Left Fianna Fáil in Nov. 2024 		29 June 2020
Denis O'Donovan Fianna Fáil 13 September 2007[‡]
Cultural and Educational Panel Malcolm Byrne[+][#] Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020
Lisa Chambers[+][#] Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020
Seán Kyne[#] Fine Gael 20 February 2020
John McGahon[+] Fine Gael 29 June 2020
Fintan Warfield Sinn Féin 8 June 2016
Industrial and Commercial Panel Catherine Ardagh Fianna Fáil 8 June 2016
Frances Black Independent
(Civil Engagement Group) 		8 June 2016
Micheál Carrigy[+] Fine Gael 29 June 2020
Ollie Crowe[+] Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020
Aidan Davitt Fianna Fáil 8 June 2016
Gerry Horkan Elected in 2021 by-election Fianna Fáil 21 April 2021[‡]
Elisha McCallion[+] Sinn Féin Resigned in 2020 29 June 2020
Sharon Keogan[+] Independent 29 June 2020
Mark Wall[+] Labour 29 June 2020
Barry Ward[+] Fine Gael 29 June 2020
Labour Panel Jerry Buttimer Fine Gael Cathaoirleach 8 June 2016[‡]
Pat Casey[+][#] Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020
Shane Cassells[+][#] Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020
Gerard Craughwell Independent 14 October 2014
John Cummins[+] Fine Gael 29 June 2020
Robbie Gallagher Fianna Fáil 8 June 2016
Paul Gavan Sinn Féin 8 June 2016
Joe O'Reilly Fine Gael 8 June 2016[‡]
Pauline O'Reilly[+] Green 29 June 2020
Ned O'Sullivan Fianna Fáil 13 September 2007
Marie Sherlock[+] Labour 29 June 2020
National University of Ireland Alice-Mary Higgins Independent
(Civil Engagement Group) 		8 June 2016
Michael McDowell Independent 8 June 2016
Rónán Mullen Independent 13 September 2007
Dublin University Ivana Bacik Labour Elected to the Dáil in 2021 13 September 2007
Tom Clonan[+] Elected in 2022 by-election Independent 5 April 2022
David Norris Independent Resigned in 2024 25 April 1987
Lynn Ruane Independent
(Civil Engagement Group) 		8 June 2016
Taoiseach's nominees Nikki Bradley[+] replaced Regina Doherty Fine Gael 10 July 2024
Lorraine Clifford-Lee Fianna Fáil 8 June 2016
Emer Currie[+] Fine Gael 29 June 2020
Regina Doherty[#][+] Fine Gael Elected to the European Parliament in 2024 29 June 2020
Aisling Dolan[+] Fine Gael 29 June 2020
Timmy Dooley[#] Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020[‡]
Mary Fitzpatrick[+] Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020
Eileen Flynn[+] Independent
(Civil Engagement Group) 		29 June 2020
Róisín Garvey[+] Green 29 June 2020
Vincent P. Martin[+] Green 29 June 2020
Erin McGreehan[+] Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020
Mary Seery Kearney[+] Fine Gael 29 June 2020

Changes

See also: 2021 Seanad by-elections, 2022 Dublin University by-election, and 2024 Seanad by-election
Date Panel Loss Gain Note
28 September 2020 Agricultural Panel Fine Gael   Michael W. D'Arcy resigns from the Seanad[13][14][15]
29 October 2020 Industrial and Commercial Panel Sinn Féin   Elisha McCallion resigns from the Seanad[16][17][18]
21 April 2021 Agricultural Panel   Fine Gael Maria Byrne elected in a by-election[19]
21 April 2021 Industrial and Commercial Panel   Fianna Fáil Gerry Horkan elected in a by-election[19]
9 July 2021 Dublin University Labour   Ivana Bacik elected to the Dáil at a by-election[20][21]
31 March 2022 Dublin University   Independent Tom Clonan elected in a by-election[22]
22 January 2024 Administrative Panel Sinn Féin   Niall Ó Donnghaile resigns[23][24]
22 January 2024 Dublin University Independent   David Norris resigns[25][26]
25 March 2024 Administrative Panel   Green Mal O'Hara elected unopposed in a by-election[27]
10 July 2024 Nominated by the Taoiseach Fine Gael   Regina Doherty resigns following her election to the European Parliament[28]
10 July 2024 Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fine Gael Nikki Bradley nominated to fill vacancy[29][30]
16 July 2024 Agricultural Panel Sinn Féin   Election of Lynn Boylan to the European Parliament[31]
4 November 2024 Agricultural Panel Fianna Fáil Independent Eugene Murphy left Fianna Fáil to contest the 2024 Irish general election as an independent.[32]

References

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