Starting as a new Senator

Before officially taking their seats in Seanad Éireann, Senators must arrange to sign the Roll of Members in the presence of the Clerk of the Seanad, Mr. Martin Groves. This must be signed before being seated in the Chamber on the first sitting day.

To sign the Roll, you should make an appointment with the Seanad office.

✉ seanad.office@oireachtas.ie

☎ (01) 6183226

On signing the Roll you may take your seat in Seanad Éireann.

When you sign the Roll an official photograph will be taken. This will be used for all official purposes and a copy will be available to you for your own use also.

Each new Senator will be assigned a Member Liaison Officer, an experienced member of staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas who will be your point of contact in your first days and weeks as a new Member.

Your Member Liaison Officer will support you and provide practical assistance to you as a new Member of Seanad Éireann.

The role of the liaison officer is to help new Senators as they become familiar with the Leinster House complex, to explain the services and facilities available and to provide an overview of the workings of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Your liaison officer will answer your questions and, when necessary, refer you to the relevant section.

The first sitting day of a new Seanad can be a busy and momentous day for Senators. The normal ordering of business for the day is set out in Standing Orders.

The first sitting starts with the reading by the Clerk of the Seanad of the Proclamation Summoning the Seanad.

This is followed by the announcement by the Clerk of the Seanad of the names of the Members nominated and elected to the Twenty-seventh Seanad.

After these announcements, the Seanad proceeds to elect a Cathaoirleach.

Once a Cathaoirleach is elected, a date is then fixed for the election of the Leas-Chathaoirleach.