Ireland

What is the Seanad? Oireachtas upper house explained as Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy elected

The Economy Minister will resign from the Executive to take up his seat

Stormont Economy Minister Conor Murphy is vying for a seat in Seanad
Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy has been elected to the Seanad. (Liam McBurney/PA)
By Mark Robinson

Economy Minister Conor Murphy has resigned from his position in the Executive after being elected to become a member of Seanad Éireann.

Polling for the Seanad closed at the end of last week, with the election held to fill the chamber’s 60 seats following the Dáil election last December.

Mr Murphy says he intends to use his time in the Seanad to help promote “the all-Ireland economy and advancing the Irish unity debate”.

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What is Seanad Éireann?

Seanad Éireann, or the Senate, is the upper house of the Oireachtas (parliament) in Ireland.

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Ireland, like countries such as the UK and the USA, uses a bicameral (two-chamber) system of parliament.

The Seanad and the Dáil (lower house) make up this two-chamber system in Ireland.

What powers does it have?

While the Seanad is the upper house of the Oireachtas, most laws are proposed and passed in the Dáil.

As with other bicameral parliamentary systems, the upper house acts alongside the lower house to vote and pass legislation.

The Seanad can propose new laws for further debate in the Dáil and amendments to laws proposed by the lower house.

A copy of the portrait hangs in Leinster House
The Seanad sits in Leinster House (Brian Lawless/PA)

However, it cannot stop bills from becoming law - it only has the power to delay.

How are its members elected?

The 60 members of the Seanad, unlike TDs, are not directly elected.

Seanadóirí (Senators) can be nominated for election by either four members of the new Dáil or outgoing Seanad.

They can also be nominated by any registered ‘nominating bodies’ for the Seanad’s different panels.

These panels cover areas such as education, agriculture and labour – nominees are typically individuals with a level of expertise in that sector.

Michael Martin feels that saying the government had been on the brink of collapse was ‘electioneering’
The Taoiseach nominates 11 members to the Seanad. (Niall Carson/PA)

Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy was elected to the Industrial and Commercial panel.

Nominees are elected by the incoming TDs, outgoing Senators and current councillors.

In addition, six members are elected by graduates of Trinity College Dublin (3) and the National University of Ireland (3).

The Taoiseach also nominates 11 members to the chamber.