Members of the 26th Seanad

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26th Seanad Éireann
←25th Seanad
Oireachtas logo.svg
Overview
Legislative bodySeanad Éireann
JurisdictionIreland
Meeting placeLeinster House
Election30–31 March 2020
Members60
CathaoirleachMark Daly (FF)
Leas-ChathaoirleachJoe O'Reilly (FG)
Leader of the
Seanad		Regina Doherty (FG)
Deputy Leader of the SeanadLisa Chambers (FF)
Leader of the
Opposition		Niall Ó Donnghaile (SF)
Leader of the
Opposition		Rebecca Moynihan (Lab)
Sessions
1st29 June 2020 – 31 July 2020
2nd16 September 2020 – 16 July 2021
3rd21 September 2021 –

There are 60 members of the 26th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament). Of these, 49 were elected on a restricted franchise, polls closing on 30–31 March; subsequently the remaining 11 members were nominated by the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, on 27 June 2020.

The government has a clear majority (40 to 20) in the Seanad.

Of the 60 members, twenty-four (40%) are women, and thirty (50%) are first-time Senators.

33 members (55%) of the 26th Seanad were unsuccessful candidates at the 2020 general election, 10 of those (17%) being outgoing TDs who failed to get re-elected. In total 41 members (68%) of the 26th Seanad had contested general elections in the past, while 15 (25%) were former TDs.

Eileen Flynn is the first Irish Traveller to be a member of the Seanad.[1]

Electoral system[]

There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 Senators are elected by the Vocational panels, six elected by the two University constituencies, and eleven are nominated by the Taoiseach. Three seats are elected by graduates of the four colleges of the National University of Ireland constituency (University College Cork, University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Galway and Maynooth University) and three seats are elected by graduates of the University of Dublin constituency (as Trinity College Dublin is the sole constituent college, this is often referred to as the Trinity College constituency).[2]

Article 18.8 of the Constitution requires that an election for Seanad Éireann must take place not later than 90 days after a dissolution of the Dáil. On 21 January, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy signed the orders for the Seanad election.[3]

Timetable[]

  • 24 February 2020: deadline for proposals for nominations to the vocational panels by nominating bodies (civic society groups)
  • 2 March 2020: deadline for proposals for nominations to the vocational panels by Members of the Oireachtas (President of Ireland, TDs and Senators)
  • 9 March 2020: Seanad Returning Officer completes the panels of candidates
  • 16 March 2020: postal balloting begins
  • 30 March 2020, 11 a.m.: polling closes for the five special panels, counting of votes commences[4][5]
  • 31 March 2020, 11 a.m.: polling closes in the two university constituencies
  • 27 June 2020: Taoiseach's nominees announced

Composition of the 26th Seanad[]

Results of 2020 Seanad election

Origin
Party
 Vocational panels NUI U Dublin Nominated Total
Admin Agri Cult & Educ Ind & Comm Labour
● Fianna Fáil 3 4 2 3 4 0 0 4 20
● Fine Gael 2 3 2 2 3 0 0 4 16
Sinn Féin 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 5
Labour Party 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 5
● Green Party 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 4
Human Dignity Alliance 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
Independent 0 1 0 2 1 2 2 1 9
Total 7 11 5 9 11 3 3 11 60

Government parties denoted with bullets (●)

List of senators[]

  • Note: The entries for Senators who were elected or appointed to fill vacancies are shown in italics
Name Panel Party Notes
Garret Ahearn Administrative Panel   Fine Gael Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Martin Conway Administrative Panel   Fine Gael  
Mark Daly Administrative Panel   Fianna Fáil Cathaoirleach
Rebecca Moynihan Administrative Panel   Labour Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Niall Ó Donnghaile Administrative Panel   Sinn Féin Seanad Leader of Sinn Féin
Fiona O'Loughlin Administrative Panel   Fianna Fáil Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020; previously a TD
Diarmuid Wilson Administrative Panel   Fianna Fáil  
Niall Blaney Agricultural Panel   Fianna Fáil Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020; previously a TD
Victor Boyhan Agricultural Panel   Independent  
Lynn Boylan Agricultural Panel   Sinn Féin Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020; previously an MEP
Paddy Burke Agricultural Panel   Fine Gael  
Paul Daly Agricultural Panel   Fianna Fáil  
Michael D'Arcy Agricultural Panel   Fine Gael Previously a TD; Resigned in September 2020
Pippa Hackett Agricultural Panel   Green  
Annie Hoey Agricultural Panel   Labour Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Tim Lombard Agricultural Panel   Fine Gael  
Eugene Murphy Agricultural Panel   Fianna Fáil Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020; previously a TD
Denis O'Donovan Agricultural Panel   Fianna Fáil Previously a TD
Maria Byrne Agricultural Panel   Fine Gael Elected in a by-election on 21 April 2021,[6] replacing Michael W. D'Arcy; previously a Senator
Malcolm Byrne Cultural and Educational Panel   Fianna Fáil Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020; previously a TD
Lisa Chambers Cultural and Educational Panel   Fianna Fáil Deputy Leader of the Seanad; elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020; previously a TD
Seán Kyne Cultural and Educational Panel   Fine Gael Previously a TD
John McGahon Cultural and Educational Panel   Fine Gael Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Fintan Warfield Cultural and Educational Panel   Sinn Féin  
Catherine Ardagh Industrial and Commercial Panel   Fianna Fáil  
Frances Black Industrial and Commercial Panel   Independent  
Micheál Carrigy Industrial and Commercial Panel   Fine Gael Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Ollie Crowe Industrial and Commercial Panel   Fianna Fáil Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Aidan Davitt Industrial and Commercial Panel   Fianna Fáil  
Elisha McCallion Industrial and Commercial Panel   Sinn Féin Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020; previously an MP and MLA; Resigned in October 2020
Sharon Keogan Industrial and Commercial Panel   Independent Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Mark Wall Industrial and Commercial Panel   Labour Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Barry Ward Industrial and Commercial Panel   Fine Gael Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Gerry Horkan Industrial and Commercial Panel   Fianna Fáil Elected in a by-election on 21 April 2021,[6] replacing Elisha McCallion; previously a Senator
Jerry Buttimer Labour Panel   Fine Gael Leas-Cathaoirleach (until August 2020); previously a TD
Pat Casey Labour Panel   Fianna Fáil Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020; previously a TD
Shane Cassells Labour Panel   Fianna Fáil Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020; previously a TD
Gerard Craughwell Labour Panel   Independent  
John Cummins Labour Panel   Fine Gael Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Robbie Gallagher Labour Panel   Fianna Fáil  
Paul Gavan Labour Panel   Sinn Féin  
Joe O'Reilly Labour Panel   Fine Gael Leas-Cathaoirleach (August 2020 onwards); previously a TD
Pauline O'Reilly Labour Panel   Green Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Ned O'Sullivan Labour Panel   Fianna Fáil  
Marie Sherlock Labour Panel   Labour Elected to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Alice Mary Higgins National University of Ireland   Independent  
Michael McDowell National University of Ireland   Independent Previously a TD
Rónán Mullen National University of Ireland   Human Dignity Alliance  
Ivana Bacik University of Dublin   Labour Elected to the Dáil at a by-election in July 2021
David Norris University of Dublin   Independent  
Lynn Ruane University of Dublin   Independent  
Lorraine Clifford-Lee Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fianna Fáil  
Emer Currie Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fine Gael Nominated to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Regina Doherty Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fine Gael Leader of the Seanad; previously a TD; Nominated to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Aisling Dolan Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fine Gael Nominated to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Timmy Dooley Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fianna Fáil Previously a TD
Mary Fitzpatrick Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fianna Fáil Nominated to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Eileen Flynn Nominated by the Taoiseach   Independent Nominated to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Róisín Garvey Nominated by the Taoiseach   Green Nominated to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Vincent P. Martin Nominated by the Taoiseach   Green Nominated to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Mary Seery Kearney Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fine Gael Nominated to Seanad for the first time in 2020
Erin McGreehan Nominated by the Taoiseach   Fianna Fáil Nominated to Seanad for the first time in 2020

Changes[]

Date Panel Gain Loss Note
28 September 2020 Agricultural Panel   Fine Gael Michael W. D'Arcy resigns from the Seanad[7]
29 October 2020 Industrial and Commercial Panel   Sinn Féin Elisha McCallion resigns from the Seanad[8]
21 April 2021 Agricultural Panel Fine Gael   Maria Byrne elected in a by-election[6]
21 April 2021 Industrial and Commercial Panel Fianna Fáil   Gerry Horkan elected in a by-election[6]
9 July 2021 University of Dublin   Labour Ivana Bacik elected to the Dáil at a by-election

By-elections[]

Main article: 2021 Seanad by-elections

By-elections to fill the vacancies left following the resignations of McCallion and D'Arcy were held on 21 April 2021.[9] Maria Byrne was elected to the Agricultural Panel, and Gerry Horkan to the Industrial and Commercial Panel.[6]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Holl, Kitty; Correspondent, Social Affairs. "Seanad nominees welcomed by National Women's Council". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Seanad elections - everything you need to know". RTÉ. 1 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Seanad Éireann General Election". Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. 22 January 2020. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  4. ^ O'Halloran, Marie. "New FG Senator expected to be appointed for few weeks before Seanad election". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  5. ^ Oireachtas, Houses of the (6 February 2020). "Seanad general election 2020 – Houses of the Oireachtas". www.oireachtas.ie. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Byrne and Horkan elected to Seanad following by-election". RTÉ News. 21 April 2021. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  7. ^ Taylor, Cliff (28 September 2020). "Former junior finance minister to head funds sector lobby group". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  8. ^ Kearney, Vincent (29 October 2020). "Three Sinn Féin members resign over Covid grants". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  9. ^ Seanad bye-elections 2021 list of candidates (Report). Houses of the Oireacthas. 30 March 2021.

External links[]

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