The work of the Seanad

Commencement matters

Commencement matters allow Senators to raise issues of national or local concern at the start of each sitting day and to put questions to Ministers or Ministers of State.

A Senator who wishes to raise a matter must submit the matter via the Áis-Linn procedural system by 12 noon on the preceding day.

The Cathaoirleach may select a maximum of four matters for consideration on any day.

Áis-Linn procedural system  

A Commencement matter request is sent via a procedural system known as Áis-Linn.  Senators, or their staff if delegated access in Áis-Linn, must submit Commencement matters for consideration and selection by the Cathaoirleach through the Áis-Linn portal. 

A matter submitted by a Senator through the Áis-Linn system will be received by both the Seanad Office and the Department simultaneously.  All notifications pertaining to the selection of a Commencement matter will be received through Áis-Linn from the ps@oireachtas.ie address.  

Guidelines for writing a Commencement matter

• Determine who the question is to be asked of and, using the correct ministerial title, commence the question with “To ask the Minister for …”.
• Ensure the Minister has responsibility for the area. Commencement matters must relate to public affairs connected with a Department of State or to matters of administration for which a member of the Government or Minister of State is officially responsible, including bodies under the aegis of a Department of State in respect of Government policy.
• Ensure the issue is brief and seeks fact or policy.
• Ensure it does not contain personal imputation or rumour. 

Order of Business

The Order of Business, which is proposed by the Leader of the House, is taken every sitting day in the Seanad. Members may oppose or seek to amend the Order of Business and the decision on the Leader's proposal rests with the House.

Legislation

The power to make new laws is the prerogative of the Houses of the Oireachtas. All proposed new laws are introduced into the Oireachtas as Bills. A draft of a proposed new law is called a Bill.

Bills may be initiated by way of introduction or presentation in either House but Bills to amend the Constitution or money Bills may not be initiated in the Seanad. 

Any Member of the Dáil or Seanad may initiate a Bill. Government Bills are approved by the Cabinet before being presented to the Dáil or Seanad. Non-Government Members, that is, Opposition Members or backbenchers in Government parties, can also bring forward their own Bills, known as Private Members’ Bills, PMBs. The Standing Orders of each House govern the admissibility of Bills.

A Bill must pass through both the Dáil and Seanad before it can be enacted. The Stages of Bills are detailed in the Standing Orders of the Dáil and the Seanad. Once a Bill has passed through all Stages in both Houses of the Oireachtas, it is sent to the President for signature and promulgation as an Act.

Motions

A motion is a proposal framed in such a way that, if agreed to, it would claim to express the will or judgment of the House. Any Member may table a motion.

Guidelines for submitting motions

Senators or their staff can complete these steps, but a final motion request should be sent from a Senator's own Oireachtas email to the Seanad Office.

• Submit your motion in writing to the Seanad Office. In the Seanad, each motion requires a proposer and a seconder.
• Send the motion no later than 11 a.m. on the fourth preceding day.
• When writing your motion you can refer to motions on previous Order Papers, all of which are available on the Oireachtas website.
• Typical Private Members’ motions may take the form, "That Seanad Éireann condemns the Government for ...", "notes that the current Housing policy is …" or "calls on the Government to ...". These motions are usually taken during Private Members’ time when topics of national and international importance have been discussed, as well as matters of concern to particular regions, groups or industries.

The Cathaoirleach rules on the admissibility of Private Members’ motions for compliance with the conditions set out in Standing Orders.

If the motion is deemed admissible, Members will be notified by the Seanad Office. It will then be circulated as a notice of motion for the information of members and will appear on the next printed Order Paper.

Amendment to a motion

If submitting an amendment to a motion, Members should make sure that the amendment is relevant to the motion to which it is proposed, and is directed to omitting, adding or substituting words.

Submit the amendment in writing to the Seanad Office no later than 11 a.m. on the second preceding day.

Statements

Statements may be scheduled on a number of topics of considerable importance to the House where there is no legislation or motion covering their discussion.

Business arrangements would normally also allow Opposition parties and groups to contribute to the statements.

Other business

Expressions of sympathy

Expressions of sympathy are formally governed by Seanad Standing Orders.

Votes of congratulations

As a general rule "votes of congratulations" are not allowed. However, as an exceptional measure, where one is considered desirable and is of public interest, prior approval of the Cathaoirleach is required before the commencement of the sitting.