# Seanad
This year
2023
Government has two years to expand Seanad electorate, Supreme Court rules
The current electoral system, which excludes many unviersities, was deemed unconstitutional earlier this year.
Hate speech law won't progress further until autumn at the earliest
A number of senators have requested a meeting with the minister about the legislation.
Oireachtas costs rose to €141.5m last year as more security was needed for politicians
The Commission said that “protecting female members” of the Oireachtas is of particular importance.
Hate speech law 'not radical', says minister as senators highlight free speech 'chilling effect'
The minister said she wanted to be clear that no one has a right not to be offended.
Seanad motion for government to 'keep their word' and disregard criminal records of gay men
Minister Harris said he expects to receive a final report from the working group as early in the second quarter of this year.
Bertie Ahern to address Seanad next week for Good Friday Agreement anniversary
Senators will tomorrow vote to formally approve the motion for the former Taoiseach to speak.
Report into 'serious welfare breaches' at Dublin Zoo deems majority of allegations to be 'unfounded'
Of 23 allegations, only one claim was ‘considered to be supported as per the stated allegation’.
Last year
2022
Fine Gael's Jerry Buttimer elected as new chair of the Seanad
Senators voted today on a new chair of the upper house.
Motion on Ireland remaining a militarily neutral state won't be opposed by Government
Taoiseach says scrapping the triple-lock is not in the Programme for Government.
Seanad motion to call for breastfeeding lessons to be taught in Irish schools
A motion is being brought forward by Green Party senator Pauline O’Reilly in an effort to boost Ireland’s low breastfeeding rates.
LED billboards 'should be restricted to 6 hours of illumination a day' to save energy
The call was made in the Seanad today by Senator Lynn Boylan.
Seanad committee to gather views from 'all traditions' on island of Ireland’s future
People who make written submissions be invited to attend hearings in the Seanad later this year.
'Your friendship and generosity will never be forgotten': Ukrainian MPs praise Ireland's response to war
Lesia Vasylenko, Alyona Shkrum, Rostyslav Tistyk and Dmytro Natalukha addressed the Seanad this afternoon.
Minister for Children apologises on behalf of Government for illegal birth registrations
A report made to the Government in September called for a state apology and a full inquiry into illegal adoptions.
Ceann Comhairle to visit Kyiv and address Ukrainian Parliament
The trip is due to take place next week.
Security analyst Tom Clonan wins the Trinity Seanad by-election
Tom Clonan, a disability campaigner, beat out Maureen Gaffney in the final count by 160 votes.
'You could do it overnight': Referendum on letting TDs vote remotely described as 'unnecessary'
A bill seeking to amend the Constitution by allowing remote voting to take place is going before the Dáil today.
Bill seeking to remove 'child pornography' term from Irish legislation to be debated in Seanad
Senator Eileen Flynn’s private members’ bill would replace the term with “child sexual exploitation material”.
Date for Seanad by-election to fill Ivana Bacik's seat set for March
Ballot papers will be issued on 25 February and the poll will close at 11 am on 30 March.
All time
Seanad passes motion calling on Government to support vaccine intellectual property waiver
The Government withdrew their counter-motion after two coalition Senators refused to support it.
New peat legislation slammed as ‘incompatible’ with climate targets and EU law
The Bill, fast-tracked by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail senators, would remove the need for planning permission to extract peat for horticultural sector use.
Legal experts argue that new peat legislation disregards strict EU environmental law, writes Niall Sargent as part of Noteworthy investigation of peat extraction
Bill would give planning exemption to peat extraction for horticulture and pause any ongoing enforcement action until at least 2026
Peatland experts are also concerned the Bill is ' not compatible' with our climate action goals
Legislation to mandate companies to report emissions moves forward in the Seanad
The Government had wanted a stay on the Bill that would delay its introduction by at least a year.
The cost of funding TDs climbed to €47.49 million last year
The accounts also disclose that sales at the Dáil bars and restaurants last year plunged by 70% from €1.4 million to €424,513.
Seanad passes extension of emergency Covid-19 powers until November, but SF to push for earlier July review date
Sinn Féin intends to put down amendments tomorrow curtailing the emergency period to 9 July rather than 9 November.
FF-FG voting pact steamrolls two-seat Seanad race as there's disappointment for Hazel Chu
Fine Gael’s Maria Byrne and Fianna Fáil’s Gerry Horkan have both been elected.
Not so rosy in the garden: Why are the Greens arguing amongst themselves again and why does it matter?
A row about a Seanad by-election has stolen attention away from a big political win – here’s why.
Green senators table no confidence motion in Hazel Chu following decision to run in Seanad by-election
The Lord Mayor announced her nomination on Monday.
Green Party councillor Hazel Chu to run as independent candidate in Seanad by-election
She did not receive backing from her party to run.
Bill to allow child murder victims to be named could be made law by end of March, McEntee says
The Bill has passed through all stages of the Seanad.
Stardust: Government urged to solve legal aid logjam that is delaying start of inquests
Opposition parties have urged the Taoiseach and the government to prevent any further delay right after the 40th anniversary of the disaster.
No paramilitary involvement in threats to port workers, says PSNI
The EU asked its officials in Northern Ireland not to go to work and condemned ‘any threats’ to port staff
Dr Maeve O'Rourke: Here's a full analysis of the problems with the Government's Mother and Baby Homes Bill
Lecturer Maeve O’Rourke analyses the government’s nine main arguments in relation to the Bill.
'The nuns sent me away with your child in a wheelbarrow': Powerful speeches in debate on mother and baby homes
Senators are debating legislation related to records compiled by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.
'Serious lapse of judgement': Fine Gael's Jerry Buttimer resigns as Leas Cathaoirleach of the Seanad
Buttimer was one of the attendees at the Oireachtas Golf Society event.
Seanad votes to continue serious organised crime trials to be heard without a jury for another year
New Justice Minister Helen McEntee addressed senators today on why the legislation should be extended.
Fianna Fáil Senator Mark Daly has been elected Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann
Daly is succeeding Senator Dennis O’Donovan in the role.
High Court rejects case from Senators who wanted clarity on rules for Seanad sittings
The issue raised in a case against the State no longer remains, but the court said it “could arise again” in the future.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin announces his 11 Seanad nominees
The Seanad is due to meet at the Dublin Convention Centre on Monday morning.
Senators go to High Court to seek declaration that Seanad can sit without Taoiseach's appointees
There have been concerns that legislation could not be passed without a full complement of senators in place.
