Watch in
In collaboration with Deaf interpreting students from the Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin, and others, we created a new Irish Sign Language glossary of parliamentary terms.
Page 1 of 5
Appendix
Definition: Additional information or details attached at the end of a document or report. Think of it as extra information that might be useful but isn't part of the main content.
Attorney General
Definition: Is the legal adviser to the Government and is therefore the chief law officer of the State.
Back Benches
Definition: The seats where TDs or Senators sit if they are not Ministers or spokespersons for their party.
Brexit
Definition: The process where the United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union, affecting how they trade, cooperate, and make laws with other European countries.
Cabinet
Definition: Group of senior Ministers chosen by the Taoiseach which is collectively responsible for government policy and oversees and co-ordinates the work of the various government departments.
Capital Funding
Definition: Capital spending generally involves the creation of an asset where benefits accrue to the public over time e.g., a road, a rail line, a school, or a hospital.
Chief Whip
Definition: The Government Chief Whip provides support to the Taoiseach in relation to Dáil business and ensures the attendance of all Government Deputies and Ministers for votes in the House.
Citizen
Definition: A person who is legally recognised as a member of a country. Citizens have certain rights and responsibilities within that country.
Coalition
Definition: When two or more political parties come together to work as a team in government. They cooperate to achieve common goals even though they might have different ideas.
Commencement Matters
Definition: A matter for discussion which a Senator raises in the Seanad and to which a Minister will respond, time is allocated at the commencement of a Seanad sitting.
Committee
Definition: Groups of TDs and Senators which deal with specific areas of Oireachtas business including receiving submissions from interest groups, discussing legislative proposals and Committee Stage of Bills.
Constituencies
Definition: Smaller regions within a country that elect representatives. Members of the Dáil (TDs) are elected to represent their constituencies and speak for the people in them in the Dáil.
Council of State
Definition: A group which advises the President, and which comprise past Taoisigh (Irish Prime Ministers), Presidents, Chief Justices, the Ceann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, the Attorney General and people appointed by the President.
Councillor
Definition: A person elected to represent a local area, such as a town or city, in a local government council.
Cross Border
Definition: Involves connections or activities that cross the boundaries between different regions or countries. For example, cross-border trade involves buying and selling goods between two different places.
Customs Union
Definition: An agreement between countries where they agree to trade goods without charging each other customs duties (taxes) while also following similar trade rules.
Delegation
Definition: A group of people who are authorised to act on behalf of a larger group. In the context of Parliamentary work, a delegation might be sent to a foreign country to represent the interests of Parliament.
Democracy
Definition: A system of government where people have the power to make decisions by voting. It's about the citizens having a say in how the country is run.
Dignitary
Definition: An important or respected person, often associated with high-ranking officials or diplomats.
