For ideas on how to find the speech or parliamentary question (PQ) you are looking for, take a look at these sample searches. These searches are done in the Find a debate page.
Sample searches
- I want to receive a notification when my local TD speaks in the Dáil.
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In the TDs & Senators section, scroll down and find your constituency on the interactive map.
View the profile of your TD. The TD's recent contributions are listed near the top of the page, and to the right of the screen you will see a Share button.
Click the Share button and click the RSS icon.
Copy the URL and add it to your RSS reader.
- I want to see recent speeches about animal welfare.
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In the For field select last 30 sittings and click the Update list button. Then type animal welfare in the search field and click the search icon or press the Enter key.
This displays all the speeches in the past 30 sittings that mentioned both animal and welfare.
- I want to see recent speeches about the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
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In the For field select last 30 sittings and click the Update list button.
Then type "Animal Health and Welfare Act" in the search field and click the search icon or press the Enter key.
This displays all the speeches in the past 30 sittings that mentioned the exact phrase Animal Health and Welfare Act.
- I’m looking for the debates of the Second Dáil.
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In the Show field select Dáil debates. In the For field select Dáil or Seanad term. In the Term field select 2nd Dáil. Click the Update list button.
This displays all the debates of the Second Dáil.
- I’m looking for speeches in the 1922 Seanad about divorce.
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In the Show field select Seanad debates. In the For field select Dáil or Seanad term. In the Term field select 1922 Seanad. Click the Update list button.
This displays all the debates of the 1922 Seanad.
Then type divorce in the search field and click the search icon or press the Enter key.
This displays all mentions of divorce in the 1922 Seanad.
- I’m looking for a speech by a current TD.
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In the TDs & Senators section find the TD’s profile. Scroll down to see his or her most recent contributions. Click the link to see all their contributions during the current term.
- I’m looking for a parliamentary question (PQ) asked by a current TD.
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In the TDs & Senators section find the TD’s profile. Scroll down to see the his or her most recent PQs. Click the link to see all PQs asked during the current term.
- I want to see how a current Senator voted in a recent Seanad division.
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In the TDs & Senators section find the Senator’s profile and scroll down to see his or her most recent vote.
- I’m looking for a speech made at a Committee debate.
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If the speech is recent, select Committee debates in the Show field and click the Update list button.
This displays Committee debates, starting with the most recent.
If you know which Committee you are looking for, go to the Committees section of the website and search via the Committee’s home page.
- I want to see all the parliamentary questions (PQs) that were asked on a particular day.
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PQs after January 2004
On the left of the Find a Debate page, select Parliamentary questions. If you’re looking for a recent date, find it in the list, which shows the most recent PQs first.
Otherwise, click the For drop-down box, select specific dates and set the date you want.
PQs before January 2004
On the left of the Find a Debate page, select Dáil debates. Click the For drop-down box, select specific dates and set the date you want.
- I want to read the debates on a particular Bill.
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In the Bills & Acts section find the Bill and open the information page about it. Scroll down and click the Debates tab. This lists the debates for all Stages of the Bill.
[If there were general discussions in the Houses about the Bill, such as motions, they will not be listed here.]