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What is the Irish Seanad and how are senators elected?

Getty Images A general view of Leinster House which houses the Seanad chamber, also known as the upper house of the Irish parliament, is pictured in Dublin, Ireland, in 2013. It is a large grey Georgian, Palladian style building with the Irish flag on top. A row of red flowers in pots and seating benches line a walkway leading up to it. Getty Images
The upper house of Oireachtas is located inside Leinster House, the same building as Dáil Eireann

Counting is under way for nominees to Seanad Éireann (the upper house of the Irish parliament) on Thursday.

One of the hopefuls is Sinn Féin Minister Conor Murphy, who made the announcement of his intention to run and quit Stormont if elected last month.

This means those from Northern Ireland will be keeping a closer eye on the results from Dublin than in previous elections.

The Seanad holds 60 members, 11of them are nominated by the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) and 49 are elected.

It sits Leinster House in Dublin, the same building as Dáil Eireann (lower house).

The National University of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin elect three each while the rest are elected to represent "vocational" panels by members of the Dáil, councillors and outgoing senators.

Getty Images Ireland's Seanad chamber, also known as the upper house of the Irish parliament, is pictured in Leinster House in Dublin, Ireland, on October 2, 2013. Rows of seating can be seen facing towards desks with the Irish flag on the back wall.Getty Images
The Seanad holds 60 members known as senators

Technically, there are no political parties within the Seanad, as each person is said to be there independently; however, they divide into groups when it comes to voting on government business.

One senator takes on the position as Cathaoirleach (Speaker).

Like in the Dáil, the Cathaoirleach chairs proceedings and must act impartially.

What does the Seanad do?

The main function of Seanad Éireann is to vote on or amend legislation.

Bills can start and end in the Seanad as well as in the Dáil.

However, the Dáil has the power to override the Seanad's rejection of a bill.

The Seanad can also take part in the removal of the president from office or a judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, or High Court.

It also has input on declaring a state of emergency.

Who can become a senator and how?

To become a senator, you must be a citizen of Ireland and over 21.

Those disallowed from becoming a member of the Seanad include:

  • people serving a prison sentence of more than 6 months
  • a judge
  • a senior official of the European Union
  • a civil servant or a member of An Garda Síochána or a full-time member of the Defence Forces

Murphy will be hoping to join a long list of people from Northern Ireland who have sat in the Seanad.

Former deputy leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party Seamus Mallon was nominated to the Seanad by then-Taoiseach Charles Haughey in 1982, holding the position of senator between May and December of that year.

Pacemaker Brian Friel is looking directly at the camera, he has short wispy grey hair. He is wearing a suit and tie.Pacemaker
Brian Friel wrote the play Philadelphia, Here I Come!

Brian Friel is remembered by most as one of the greatest playwrights of his generation, but he also sat as a senator.

Friel was nominated by Haughey in 1987 and held the position for two years.

Writer and broadcaster Sam McAughtry was born in the predominantly Protestant Tiger's Bay area of Belfast.

It would seem unlikely that he would sit on the Seanad.

However, the trade union representative and a member of the Northern Ireland Labour Party became the first person from Northern Ireland to be elected rather than appointed as a senator in 1996.

PA Media Cahill has long blonde hair, she is looking directly at the camera. She is wearing a brightly patterned pink, orange and blue scarf..PA Media
Máiría Cahill was elected as a senator in November 2015

In 2014, Máiría Cahill waived her legal right to anonymity relating to claims of sexual abuse in the BBC Northern Ireland documentary 'Spotlight – A Woman Alone With the IRA'.

The story was reported extensively in the media and debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Cahill was elected as a senator in November 2015.

How is the Seanad elected?

This is often noted as the most confusing part of the Seanad operation.

The Seanad election must take place up to 90 days after Dáil Éireann has dissolved.

This means that the new Dáil is formed before the Seanad election.

Forty-nine of the Seanad's 60 members are elected, and 11 are nominated by the taoiseach.

However, not everyone in Ireland can vote for the 49 elected members.

Forty-three are elected from panels of candidates representing specified vocational interests.

The panels are cultural and educational, agricultural, labour, industrial, and commercial and administrative.

Candidates for panels are selected by nominating organisations or by members of the incoming Dáil or outgoing Seanad.

The following people may vote in an election of panel members:

  • Members of the incoming Dáil
  • Members of the outgoing Seanad
  • Members of county councils and city councils

The remaining six members are elected by university graduates of Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland.