Assembly of Ireland
Other opposition (56)
|Single transferable vote|
|26 February 2016|
|No later than 12 April 2021|
Leinster House, Dublin
Dáil Éireann (/ /,
Assembly of Ireland
Other opposition (56)
|Single transferable vote|
|26 February 2016|
|No later than 12 April 2021|
Leinster House, Dublin
Dáil Éireann (/ /, doyl aer-ahn; lit. Assembly of Ireland) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house). It currently consists of 158 members, representing 40 constituencies, and is directly elected at least once every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (STV). Its powers are similar to those of lower houses under many other bicameral parliamentary systems 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.
- 1 Title
- 2 Composition
- 3 Duration
- 4 Dissolution
- 5 Ceann Comhairle
- 6 Powers
- 7 Activities
- 8 Voting procedure
- 9 History
- 10 Current composition
- 11 See also
- 12 Notes
- 13 References
- 14 External links
The name Dáil Éireann is taken from the Irish language but is the official title of the body in both English and Irish, including both language versions of the Irish constitution. Since the Dáil was first established in 1919, it has also been described variously as a "National Assembly", a "Chamber of Deputies" and a "House of Representatives".
A dáil means an assembly or parliament, so a literal translation of Dáil Éireann is "Assembly of Ireland". Article 15 of Ireland's constitution describes the body as "a House of Representatives to be called Dáil Éireann" (Teach Ionadóirí ar a dtugtar Dáil Éireann).
In common usage, the word Dáil is accompanied by the definite article, but Dáil Éireann is not. So one speaks of "the Dáil" but not "the Dáil Éireann".
Dáil Éireann has 158 members; the number has occasionally been changed within the limits of the Constitution of Ireland, which sets a minimum ratio of one member per 20,000 of the population, and a maximum of one per 30,000. Under current legislation, members are directly elected at least once in every five years by the people of the Republic of Ireland under a system of proportional representation known as the single transferable vote. Although the constitutional maximum for a Dáil term is seven years, an earlier maximum of five years is set by the Electoral Act, 1992. Membership of the Dáil is open to Irish citizens who are 21 or older. A member of the Dáil is known as a Teachta Dála, TD or Deputy.
The Dáil electorate consists of Irish and British citizens over 18 years of age who are registered to vote in Ireland. Under the Constitution of Ireland a general election for Dáil Éireann must occur once in every seven years, but a five-year limit is currently specified by statute. The Taoiseach (head of government) can, by making a request to the president, effectively dissolve the Dáil at any time, in which case a general election must occur within thirty days. The President may refuse to dissolve the Dáil, and ask the Dáil to form an alternative government without a general election taking place.
The STV electoral system broadly produces proportional representation in the Dáil. The small size 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, one-party government by the Fianna Fáil party was common. The multi-seat constituencies required by STV mean that candidates must often compete for election with others from the same party. This increases voter choice but is accused by some of producing TDs who are excessively parochial. Two failed attempts – 1959 and 1968 – have been made to change to the United Kingdom's plurality voting system ('first-past-the-post') electoral system. Both were rejected in referendums. By-elections occur under the alternative vote system.
Currently every 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 (Section 6 of the Electoral Act 1997) places a maximum size of five members on constituencies. The constitution requires that con