What is the national Parliament of Ireland?
The national Parliament of Ireland is known as the Oireachtas (pronounced "air-ack-tus"). The Oireachtas is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of Ireland and consists of three elements: the President of Ireland, the Dáil Éireann (lower house), and the Seanad Éireann (upper house). The Dáil is directly elected by the people of Ireland, while the Seanad is elected by a vocational panel system involving various sectors of Irish society. Together, these three elements make up the Oireachtas, which is responsible for passing laws, overseeing government activities, and representing the interests of the Irish people.