A
Act
A law that has been signed by the President of Ireland
Amendment
A proposed change to the detail of a Bill
B
Back benches
The seats where TDs or Senators sit if they are not Ministers or spokespersons for their party
Bill
A draft of a new law that has not yet been passed by the Oireachtas
Budget
The Government's annual financial plan
Bunreacht na hÉireann
The Constitution of Ireland
By-election
An election that occurs when a seat in the Dáil or Seanad becomes vacant during the lifetime of a Dáil, generally because the sitting TD or Senator dies, resigns or becomes ineligible to sit for some reason
C
Cabinet
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
Cathaoirleach
Chairperson
Ceann Comhairle
The Chairperson of Dáil Éireann who chairs the proceedings and ensures all TDs are treated fairly and the rules of the House are followed
Chief Whip
The Whip of the main party in government, who is also the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach; see also Whip
Clerk of the Dáil
The senior civil servant in the administration of the Dáil, who is also Secretary General of the Houses of the Oireachtas
Clerk of the Seanad
The senior civil servant of the Seanad
Commencement Matter
A matter for discussion which a Senator raises in the Seanad and to which a Minister responds; time is allocated at the commencement of a Seanad sitting to take up to four commencement matters
Commencement Order
A statutory instrument that specifically commences a part of an Act
Committees
Groups of TDs and Senators which deal with specific areas of Oireachtas business including receiving submissions from interest groups, discussing legislative proposals and taking Committee Stage of Bills
Comptroller and Auditor General
The person selected by Dáil Éireann to provide independent assurance that public money is properly managed and spent to good effect; knows as the C&AG for short
Constitution of Ireland
The Constitution sets out Ireland’s basic laws and describes how the country should be governed, the main institutions of the State and the rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens; in the Irish language Bunreacht na hÉireann
Council of State
A group which advises the President and which comprises past Taoisigh (Prime Ministers), Presidents, Chief Justices, the Ceann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, the Attorney General and people appointed by the President
Cream list
A list of amendments passed by one House to a Bill initiated in the other House; these amendments must be approved by the House in which the Bill was initiated
D
Deputy
Member of the Dáil; also known as a TD (Teachta Dála)
Dáil Éireann
The Lower House of the Oireachtas; known as the Dáil for short
Dissolution
An action by the President to end the current term of the Dáil so a general election can be held
Division
The point in parliamentary proceedings where a question or amendment is put to a formal vote by Members
Documents Laid
Documents that are formally submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas in order to support the democratic process; known as DocsLaid for short
E
Estimates for Public Services
A document which sets out the amount planned to be spent by Government Departments and certain agencies in the coming year
Explanatory Memorandum
Document outlining the purpose and main provisions of a Bill
F
Front bench
The seats where Government Ministers and party spokespersons sit in the Dáil and Seanad
G
General election
Election in which citizens on the voting register cast their votes to elect TDs to a new Dáil
General Scheme of a Bill
Also known as the Heads of a Bill; a document which sets out the main objectives, headings and provisions of a proposed Bill
Green Paper
A discussion document which sets out the Government’s ideas and invites comment and views from individuals and relevant organisation
Guillotine
A restriction on the time allocated to debate a Bill in one of the Houses, which may result in the Bill being passed without being fully debated
H
Heads of a Bill
Also known as the General Scheme of a Bill; a document which sets out the main objectives, headings and provisions of a proposed Bill
I
Irish Statute Book
An online repository of searchable legislation
J
Joint Committee
A committee which comprises Members of both Dáil and Seanad Éireann
Junior Minister
A Member appointed by the Taoiseach to help a Minister of a Government Department; officially called a Minister of State
L
Leaders’ Questions
Time allocated during a Dáil sitting during which each Opposition party leader may ask the Taoiseach a brief question on a matter of public importance
Leas-Chathaoirleach
The deputy chairman of Seanad Éireann
Leas-Cheann Comhairle
The deputy chairman of Dáil Éireann
Long Title
An outline description of the purpose of a Bill
M
Member
A Member of either House of the Oireachtas
Minister
A member of the Government who manages a Department
Minister of State
A Member appointed by the Taoiseach to help a Minister of a Government Department; also known as a Junior Minister
Money Bill
A Bill that only contains provisions dealing with taxation; borrowing or repayment of loans; or management or expenditure of public money
Money message
A message from the Government approving the expenditure of public moneys, required for any Bill to proceed to Committee Stage
Motion
A formal proposal made in the Dáil or Seanad which may be debated and voted on by the Members
Motion of Approval
A formal proposal made in the Dáil or Seanad (or both) allowing a proposed statutory instrument to be debated and voted on by Members of the Oireachtas
Motion to Annul
A formal proposal made in the Dáil or Seanad (or both) allowing a proposed statutory instrument to be annulled following a debate and vote by Members
O
Oireachtas
The national parliament of Ireland which consists of the President, Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann
Order of Business
The items of business to be taken in the Dáil or Seanad on a particular day; announced by the Taoiseach in the Dáil and the Leader in the Seanad
Order Paper
Document which sets out the business before each House
P
Pairing
An arrangement whereby a TD of one party agrees with a TD of an opposing party not to vote in a particular division, giving both TDs the opportunity to be elsewhere
Parliamentary question (PQ)
A question by a TD or Senator to a Minister; a number of questions are selected to be answered in the Dáil while the remainder receive written replies
President
The head of the Irish State
Private Bill
A Bill that is promoted by local authorities and private bodies or individuals for their own purposes; see also Public Bill
Private Members’ Bill (PMB)
A Bill initiated by a TD or Senator who is not a member of Government
Private Members’ Business
Time allocated during a Dáil sitting during which Opposition parties and groups can bring forward their own Bills and motions for debate
Programme for Government
A Government’s work plan for its time in office
Public Bill
A Bill that is applicable to the general body of citizens; see also Private Bill
Q
Questions Paper
A document containing the texts of all oral, priority and written questions for a particular day in the order in which they are to be asked
Quorum
A quorum of 20 Members is required to begin a Dáil sitting, except on a Friday sitting when the quorum is 10
R
Referendum
A vote by the electorate, usually on a single issue such as a change to the Constitution or a European treaty
S
Seanad Éireann
The Upper House of the Oireachtas; known as the Seanad for short or the Senate
Select Committee
A committee consisting of either Members of the Dáil or Members of the Seanad, but not both
Senator
A Member of Seanad Éireann
Sine die
Latin: without day; indicates that a forum has adjourned without setting a date for its next meeting
Sitting day
A day on which the Dáil or Seanad sits; in a typical year there are approximately 100 Dáil sitting days and the provisional calendar of Dáil sittings is published on the Dáil schedule page
Standing Orders
The rules of either Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann
Statutory Instrument (SI)
A form of delegated or "secondary" legislation, such as ministerial orders and regulations
T
Tánaiste
The Taoiseach’s deputy
Taoiseach
The head of the Irish Government (Prime Minister of Ireland)
TD
Teachta Dála; directly translates as Deputy to the Dáil
Topical Issue
An issue of concern which a TD raises in the Dáil and to which a Minister responds; time is allocated on each Dáil sitting day to take up to four topical issues
W
Whip
A TD or Senator appointed by each party to maintain party discipline and encourage party members to vote in a particular way in divisions
White Paper
A discussion document which sets out the Government’s policy on an issue and what it intends to do
Last updated: 11 May 2021