Transcript Democracy in Ireland - CSPE.tv citizenship education

The OIREACHTAS
By CSPE.tv
Ireland
• Ireland is a parliamentary democracy
• This means that we are governed by our
parliament, which is democratically elected
The Oireachtas
This is the national
parliament of Ireland.
It has three parts.
The Dail
The President
The Seanad
The Oireachtas
• The President of Ireland is the head of state
of the country. This role is largely symbolic.
• Dáil Éireann is where TDs debate and vote
on important issues e.g. any changes to the
law.
• Seanad Éireann is where senators review the
laws passed in the Dail. It has an advisory
role so can only delay laws and make
suggestions
• Video about the Oireachtas
President of Ireland
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Elected every seven years
Is the head of state of the country
A largely ceremonial role
Lives in Áras an Uachtaráin
Must be over 35 years old
Presidential oath
– "In the presence of Almighty God I ,do solemnly
and sincerely promise and declare that I will
maintain the Constitution of Ireland and uphold
its laws, that I will fulfil my duties faithfully and
conscientiously in accordance with the
Constitution and the law, and that I will dedicate
my abilities to the service and welfare of the
people of Ireland. May God direct and sustain
me."
Douglas Hyde
Sean T. O’Kelly
Eamon de Valera
Erskine Childers
1938-45
1945-1959
1959-1973
1973-1974
Cearbhall O Dalaigh
Patrick Hillery
Mary Robinson
Mary McAleese
1974-76
1976-1990
1990-1997
1997-2011
Seanad Éireann
(The Senate of Ireland)
• Seanad Éireann sits in Leinster House.
• Is the upper house of the Irish Parliament (The Oireachtas)
• Was intended to play an advisory and revising role so has much less
power than the Dail. It can delay laws with which it disagrees.
• It has 60 senators
• 11 appointed by the Taoiseach
• 6 elected by Trinity and NUI graduates
• 43 elected by TDs, outgoing senators and local councillors from five panels
Dáil Éireann
• Voters elect 166 TDs to the Dáil
– TDs sit in the Dail chamber
– One TD is picked to be Ceann Comhairle
(chairperson) of the Dail
• TDs debate proposed new laws (bills) and how
the country is run
– More than half of TDs need to vote for a bill for it
to be passed into law
The Dail live
Dail archive
JFK visits the Dail
The OIREACHTAS
By CSPE.tv