# Travel >> Destinations >> Ireland

The Oireachtas: Ireland's National Parliament—Structure, Powers & History

The Oireachtas (Irish: [ˈɛɾʲaxt̪ˠəsˠ], "assembly") is the legislature of Ireland (Republic of Ireland). Established by the 1937 Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann), it succeeds the Free State Oireachtas (1922) and the revolutionary Dáil Éireann (1919).

Three Components

Component	Irish Name	Role	Selection
President of Ireland	Uachtarán na hÉireann	Head of State; signs bills; refers to Supreme Court; dissolves Dáil on Taoiseach's advice	Direct popular vote (7-year term, max 2 terms)
Dáil Éireann (Lower House)	Dáil Éireann	Primary legislative chamber; 174 TDs (from 2024); forms government; passes budget; confidence votes	STV-PR in 43 constituencies (3-5 seats); universal suffrage 18+
Seanad Éireann (Upper House)	Seanad Éireann	Revising chamber; 60 Senators; can delay (90-180 days) but not block money bills	11 Taoiseach nominees; 6 university grads (3 NUI, 3 Trinity); 43 vocational panels

Key Powers

Legislative: Bills pass both houses → President signs → law. Seanad delay only.
Financial: Dáil controls money bills (tax, spending). Seanad: 21-day review only.
Government Formation: Taoiseach elected by Dáil; cabinet responsible to Dáil.
Oversight: Committees (15+), Questions, Motions, Comptroller & Auditor General reports.
Constitutional Amendment: Oireachtas passes → Referendum required.

Historic Homes

Leinster House, Dublin (since 1922)—originally Kildare House (1745), bought by RDS 1815, leased to Free State 1922, purchased 1924. Iconic Georgian palace.

Previous: Mansion House (1919 Dáil), University College Dublin (1921 Treaty debates), Royal Hospital Kilmainham (1922 provisional).

Unique Features

Irish language: Official working language. Simultaneous translation. Gaeltacht representation.
Ceann Comhairle: Speaker elected by secret ballot; resigns party affiliation.
Petitions: Citizens can petition committees directly.
Televised: Oireachtas TV (since 2005). Committees streamed.

Current Composition (2024)

Government: Fine Gael + Fianna Fáil + Greens (coalition). Opposition: Sinn Féin (largest party), Labour, Social Democrats, PBP-Solidarity, Aontú, Independents. 23% women TDs.

The Oireachtas embodies Ireland's hard-won sovereignty—imperfect, evolving, but undeniably ours.

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