Dáil Éireann: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|LowerHouse houseof representatives of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament)}}

| house_type = [[LowerHouse houseof representatives]] of the [[Oireachtas]]

| established = 29 December 1937 ([[Adoption of the Constitution of Ireland#Plebiscite|Modern form]])

| next_election1 = [[Next Irish general election|By FebruaryMarch 2025]]

| redistricting = Non-bindingAdvisory recommendations made by the [[ConstituencyElectoral Commission (Ireland)|Electoral Commission]]

'''Dáil Éireann''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=ga-Dáil_Éireann.ogg|d|ɔɪ|l|_|ˈ|ɛər|ən}} {{respell|doyl|_|AIR|ən}},<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/D%C3%A1il |title=Dáil |dictionary=[[Lexico|Oxford Dictionaries]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> {{IPA-ga|ˌd̪ˠaːlʲ ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ|lang}}; {{lit.|Assembly of Ireland}}) is the [[lower house of representatives]], and principal chamber, of the [[Oireachtas]] (Irish legislature), which also includes the [[Presidentpresident of Ireland]] and a [[Seanad Éireannsenate]] (thecalled [[upperSeanad houseÉireann]]).<ref name=Article_15_1_2>Article 15.1.2° of the [[Constitution of Ireland]] reads: "The Oireachtas shall consist of the President and two Houses, viz.: a House of Representatives to be called Dáil Éireann and a Senate to be called Seanad Éireann."</ref> It consists of 160 members, each known as a {{lang|ga|[[Teachta Dála]]}} (plural {{lang|ga|Teachtaí Dála}}, commonly abbreviated as TDs). TDs represent 39 [[Dáil constituencies|constituencies]] and are directly elected for terms not exceeding five years, on the system of [[proportional representation]] by means of the [[single transferable vote]] (PR-STV). Its powers are similar to those of lower houses under many other [[bicameralism|bicameral]] [[parliamentary system]]s and it is by far the dominant branch of the Oireachtas. Subject to the limits imposed by the [[Constitution of Ireland]], it has power to pass any law it wishes, and to nominate and remove the [[Taoiseach]] ([[head of government]]). Since 1922, it has met in [[Leinster House]] in [[Dublin]].

The STV electoral system broadly produces proportional representation in the Dáil. The smalllow size[[district magnitude]] of the constituencies used, however, usually gives a small advantage to the larger parties and under-represents smaller parties. Since the 1990s the norm in the state has been coalition governments. Prior to 1989, however, onesingle-party governmentgovernments by the [[Fianna Fáil]] party waswere common. The multi-seat constituencies required by STV mean that candidates must often compete for election with others from the same party. (The contest is not zero-sum though, as two or more candidates of the same party can all be elected.) This system offers wide voter choice but is accused by some of producing TDs who are excessively parochial. By-elections occur under the [[instant-runoff voting|alternative vote]] system. Proposals to [[Amendments to the Constitution of Ireland|amend the constitution]] to change to the [[Firstfirst-past-the-post voting]] system were rejected in [[Amendments to the Constitution of Ireland|referendums]] [[Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1958|in 1959]] and [[Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1968|in 1968]].

Currently every [[Dáil constituencies|constituency]] elects between three and five TDs. The constitution specifies that no constituency may return fewer than three TDs but does not specify any upper limit to constituency magnitude. However, statute specifies a maximum of five seats per constituency.<ref>{{Cite Irish legislation|section=6|year=1997|number=25|stitle=Function of Constituency Commission|name=Electoral Act 1997|date=15 May 1997|access-date=5 August 2021}}</ref> The constitution requires that constituency boundaries be reviewed at least once in every twelve years, so that boundaries may be redrawn to accommodate changes in population. Boundary changes are currently drafted by an independent commission, and its recommendations are implemented by law. [[Malapportionment]] is forbidden by the constitution. Under the Constitution, the commission is required to refer to the most recent Census when considering boundary changes.

FollowingOn 6 December 1922, following the signing of the 19221921 [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]], which brought the Irish War of Independence to an end, the single chamber Dáil became the lower house of a new bicameral Oireachtas, the parliament of the newly established [[Irish Free State]]. Under the treaty, a new constitution replaced the 1919 Dáil constitution.

On 29 December 1937, on the coming into force of the new [[Constitution of Ireland]], the Irish Free State ceased to exist and was replaced by a new state called Ireland, with the coming into force of the new [[Constitution of Ireland]]. Article 16.5 of the 1937 constitutionConstitution states that, "Dáil Éireann shall not continue for a longer period than seven years from the date of its first meeting: a shorter period may be fixed by law". The period in law remained at five years. Since the coming into force of the 1937 constitution, no Irish government has proposed changing the maximum term of the Dáil, which still remains five years and was reconfirmed by legislation in 1992, which stated, "The same Dáil shall not continue for a longer period than five years from the date of its first meeting".<ref name=1992ActS33/> The acceptance of five years as the maximum term for any single Dáil was reconfirmed by section 33 of the Electoral Act 1992, which states Consequently, the maximum term for the Dáil is five years from the date it first met following the last general election.

The timing for polling day in a general election is decided on by the Taoiseach. However, this is governed within a specified statutory framework. Once the Presidentialpresidential proclamation is issued, the [[Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government and Heritage]] sets, by way of a ministerial order, the date and time of polling day in the election.

A {{lang|ga|dáil}} means a "meeting, tryst or encounter of any kind".<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Connolly |editor-first1=S. J. |title=The Oxford Campanion to Irish History |date=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780192805010 |page=141 |edition=2nd pbk}}</ref> Article 15 of the [[Constitution of Ireland|1937 Constitution]] describes the body as "a House of Representatives to be called Dáil Éireann" (''{{lang|ga|Teach Ionadóirí ar a dtugtar Dáil Éireann''}}).<ref name=Article_15_1_2/><ref name=isbcons>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|title=Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|access-date=9 November 2011|archive-date=3 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503055502/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Ceann Comhairle]] is the chairman, or presiding member, of the Dáil is the [[Ceann Comhairle]]. The Ceann Comhairle is chosen from among TDs but is required to observe strict impartiality. Despite this, the government will usually try to select one of its own for the position, if its numbers allow. To protect the neutrality of the chair, an incumbent Ceann Comhairle does not seek re-election as a TD but rather is deemed automatically to have been re-elected by their constituency at a general election, unless they are retiring. The Ceann Comhairle does not vote except in the event of a tie. The current Ceann Comhairle is Fianna Fáil TD [[Seán Ó Fearghaíl]].

While the Dáil is one of three components of the Oireachtas, the other two being the [[President of Ireland]] and [[Seanad Éireann]], the powers the constitution grants to the Dáil render it by far the dominant branch, meaning that most bills passed by the Dáil will ultimately become law. The Presidentpresident, upon consultation with the [[Council of State (Ireland)|Council of State]], may refer a bill to the [[Supreme Court of Ireland]] to test its constitutionality upon consultation with the [[Council of State (Ireland)|Council of State]]. If the Court finds that the bill is inconsistent with the Constitution, the billpresident doesmay not becomesign lawthe bill.

A typical day consists of questions to various cabinet ministers, Leaders’ questions whereby opposition Leaders ask the Taoiseach questions and routine debates on Bills. Every Tuesday and Wednesday three hours over the two days are given to the debate of opposition motions. These normally try to embarrass the government and are widely covered in the media. The government and its Majoritymajority normally amends these suitably and the amended version is passed by the Government.

The [[Constitution of Ireland]], adopted in 1937, established the modern Irish state, referred to today as Ireland.<ref name=isbcons /> Under the constitution a new legislature retained the title ''{{lang|ga|Oireachtas''}}, and its lower house remained ''{{lang|ga|Dáil Éireann''}}. The first Dáil to meet under the Constitution of Ireland was described as the Ninth Dáil.