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27th Seanad

{{short description|Members of the Seanad from 2025}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox legislative term

| name = 27th Seanad

| image = Oireachtas logo.svg

| image_size = 100px

| body = Seanad Éireann

| country = Ireland

| meeting_place = Leinster House

| election = 29–30 January 2025

| term_start =

| term_end =

| before = 26th Seanad

| after =

| government = 35th government of Ireland

| membership1 = 60

| chamber1_leader1_type = Cathaoirleach

| chamber1_leader1 = Mark Daly (FF)

| chamber1_leader2_type = Leas-Chathaoirleach

| chamber1_leader2 = Maria Byrne (FG)

| chamber1_leader3_type = Leader of the Seanad

| chamber1_leader3 = Seán Kyne (FG)

| chamber1_leader4_type = Deputy leader of the Seanad

| chamber1_leader4 = Fiona O'Loughlin (FF)

| chamber1_leader6_type = Leader of the Opposition

| chamber1_leader6 = Conor Murphy (SF)

| session1_start = 12 February 2025

| session1_end =

}}

The 27th Seanad has been in office since February 2025. The 2025 Seanad election took place in January 2025, following the 2024 general election to the 34th Dáil on 29 November 2024. It was fully composed on 7 February 2025 on the nomination of members by the taoiseach.

Background

The Constitution of Ireland requires a general election for Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas, to take place no later than ninety days after the dissolution of Dáil Éireann. There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels by serving politicians; 6 were elected in two university constituencies; and 11 are nominated by the taoiseach who was appointed after the assembly of the 34th Dáil. It will remain in office until the close of poll for the 28th Seanad.

The 33rd Dáil was dissolved on 8 November 2024. On 15 November 2024, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, signed orders for the Seanad election, providing 29 January as the deadline for ballots in the university constituencies and 30 January as the deadline for ballots for the vocational panels.{{cite press release |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ced78-minister-obrien-makes-orders-appointing-dates-and-times-for-seanad-eireann-general-election/ |title=Minister O'Brien makes Orders appointing dates and times for Seanad Éireann general election |date=15 November 2024 |publisher=Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage |website=Government of Ireland |access-date=17 November 2024 |archive-date=15 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241115180744/https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ced78-minister-obrien-makes-orders-appointing-dates-and-times-for-seanad-eireann-general-election/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Seanad offers lifeboat to enable TDs who lost their seats remain in Oireachtas |first1=Marie |last1=O'Halloran |first2=John |last2=Fallon |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/12/02/seanad-offers-lifeboat-to-enable-tds-who-lost-their-seats-remain-in-oireachtas/ |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=4 December 2024 |archive-date=3 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203015324/https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/12/02/seanad-offers-lifeboat-to-enable-tds-who-lost-their-seats-remain-in-oireachtas/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Seanad Panel Members General Election Order 2024 |url=https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/electoralProcess/electionResults/seanad/2024/2024-11-25_seanad-panel-members-general-election-order-2024_en.pdf |date=15 November 2024 |access-date=17 January 2025 |archive-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208115402/https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/electoralProcess/electionResults/seanad/2024/2024-11-25_seanad-panel-members-general-election-order-2024_en.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Seanad University Members General Election Order 2024 |url=https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/electoralProcess/electionResults/seanad/2024/2024-11-25_seanad-university-members-general-election-order-2024_en.pdf |date=15 November 2024 |access-date=17 January 2025 |archive-date=14 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114163227/https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/electoralProcess/electionResults/seanad/2024/2024-11-25_seanad-university-members-general-election-order-2024_en.pdf |url-status=live }} Under the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Act 2024, this is to be the last Seanad in which the two university constituencies will exist. At the next Seanad general election, they will be replaced by a new Higher Education constituency.

On 7 February 2025, the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, nominated eleven members with their prior consent to be members of the Seanad.{{cite journal |title=Nomination of Members of Seanad Éireann |journal=Iris Oifigiúil |date=14 February 2025 |volume=2025 |issue=13 |page=206 |url=https://irisoifigiuil.ie/currentissues/IR140225.pdf#page=4}}

Cathaoirleach

On 12 February 2025, Mark Daly (FF) was proposed as Cathaoirleach by Fiona O'Loughlin (FF) and seconded by Shane Curley (FF). He was elected without a division.{{Cite journal |journal=Seanad Debates |date=12 February 2025 |title=Election of Cathaoirleach |volume=304 |issue=1 |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2025-02-12/7/ |access-date=8 March 2025 |language=en-ie}}

On 19 February 2025, Maria Byrne (FG) was proposed as Leas-Chathaoirleach by Seán Kyne (FG) and seconded by Joe O'Reilly (FG). Eileen Flynn (Ind) was proposed by Frances Black (Ind) and seconded by Nessa Cosgrove (Lab). Byrne was elected by a vote of 36 to 15.{{Cite journal |journal=Seanad Debates |date=19 February 2025 |title=Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach |volume=304 |issue=3 |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2025-02-19/3/ |access-date=8 March 2025 |language=en-ie}}

Composition of the 27th Seanad

class="wikitable"
rowspan="2" colspan="2" {{diagonal split header 2|Party|Origin}}

! scope="col" colspan="5"| Vocational panels

! rowspan="2"| NUI

! rowspan="2"| DU

! rowspan="2"| Nominated

! rowspan="2" colspan="2"| Total

scope="col" |Admin

! scope="col" |Agri

! scope="col" |Cult & Educ

! scope="col" |Ind & Comm

! scope="col" |Labour

style="text-align:center"

! style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |{{colorbull|black|round}}

|align="left"| Fianna Fáil

3313300619style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
style="text-align:center"

! style="background-color: {{party color|Fine Gael}}" |{{colorbull|black|round}}

|align="left"| Fine Gael

2422300518style="background-color: {{party color|Fine Gael}}" |
style="text-align:center"

| style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

|align="left"| Sinn Féin

111120006style="background-color: {{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |
style="text-align:center"

| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}" |

|align="left"| Labour Party

000110002style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}" |
style="text-align:center"

! style="background-color: {{party color|Green Party (Ireland)}}" |

|align="left"| Green Party

010000001style="background-color: {{party color|Green Party (Ireland)}}" |
style="text-align:center"

! style="background-color: {{party color|Aontú}}" |

|align="left"| Aontú

010000001style="background-color: {{party color|Aontú}}" |
style="text-align:center"

! style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democrats (Ireland)}}" |

|align="left"| Social Democrats

000010001style="background-color: {{party color|Social Democrats (Ireland)}}" |
style="text-align:center"

| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

|align="left"| Independent

1112133012style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |
style="font-weight:bold; background:rgb(232,232,232); text-align:center"

|colspan="2"| Total

7115911331160

Government parties are denoted with bullets ({{colorbull|black|round}}).

=Effect of changes=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan="2"|  

!Feb. 2025{{efn|group=comp|Composition after the 2025 Seanad election and the completion of nominations by the taoiseach.}}

!Feb. 2025{{efn|group=comp|Composition after the resignation of Martin Conway from Fine Gael.}}

style="text-align:center"

| {{party name with colour|Fianna Fáil}}

1919
style="text-align:center"

| {{party name with colour|Fine Gael}}

1817
style="text-align:center"

| {{party name with colour|Sinn Féin}}

66
style="text-align:center"

| {{party name with colour|Labour Party (Ireland)}}

22
style="text-align:center"

| {{party name with colour|Green Party (Ireland)}}

11
style="text-align:center"

| {{party name with colour|Social Democrats (Ireland)}}

11
style="text-align:center"

| {{party name with colour|Aontú}}

11
style="text-align:center"

| {{party name with colour|Independent politician (Ireland)}}

1213
style="text-align:center"

|colspan="2"|Total

|colspan="2"|60

{{notelist|group=comp}}

List of senators

{{cnote|+|New senator.}}

{{cnote|#|Member of the 33rd Dáil who was not re-elected at the 2024 general election.}}

class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan=2 | Panel

! rowspan=2 | Name

! class="unsortable" rowspan=2 | Portrait

! colspan=4 | Party affiliation
{{small|(Technical group)}}

! data-sort-type="date" rowspan=2 | Assumed office

colspan=2 | Start of Seanad term

! colspan=2 | Current

rowspan=7 | Administrative Panel

| data-sort-value="Ahearn, Garret" |Garret Ahearn

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fine Gael

| 29 June 2020

data-sort-value="Conway, Martin" |Martin Conway

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| Fine Gael

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

| Independent
{{small|Resigned from Fine Gael in Feb. 2025}}

| 25 May 2011

data-sort-value="Daly, Mark" |Mark Daly

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 13 September 2007

data-sort-value="Flynn, Eileen" |Eileen Flynn

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent
{{small|(Civil Engagement Group)}}

| 29 June 2020

data-sort-value="OLoughlin, Fiona" |Fiona O'Loughlin

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 29 June 2020

data-sort-value="Ryan, Nicole" |Nicole Ryan{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

| colspan=3 | Sinn Féin

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Wilson, Diarmuid" |Diarmuid Wilson

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 12 September 2002

rowspan=11 | Agricultural Panel

| data-sort-value="Blaney, Niall" |Niall Blaney

| 120x120px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 29 June 2020

data-sort-value="Brady, Paraic" |Paraic Brady{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fine Gael

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Boyhan, Victor" |Victor Boyhan

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent

| 8 June 2016

data-sort-value="Byrne, Maria" |Maria Byrne

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3| Fine Gael

| 21 April 2021

data-sort-value="Collins, Joanne" |Joanne Collins{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

| colspan=3|Sinn Féin

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Costello, Teresa" |Teresa Costello{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Daly, Paul" |Paul Daly

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 8 June 2016

data-sort-value="Lynch, Eileen" |Eileen Lynch{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fine Gael

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Murphy, P.J." |P. J. Murphy{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fine Gael

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Noonan, Malcolm" |Malcolm Noonan{{cref|+}}{{cref|#}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Green Party (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Green Party

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="O'Reilly, Sarah" |Sarah O'Reilly{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Aontú}}" |

| colspan=3 | Aontú

| 30 January 2025

rowspan=5 | Cultural and Educational Panel

| data-sort-value="Byrne, Cathal" |Cathal Byrne{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3| Fine Gael

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Conway, Joe" |Joe Conway{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Curley, Shane" |Shane Curley{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Kyne, Seán" |Seán Kyne

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fine Gael

| 20 February 2020

data-sort-value="Tully, Pauline" |Pauline Tully{{cref|+}}{{cref|#}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

| colspan=3 | Sinn Féin

| 30 January 2025

rowspan=9 | Industrial and Commercial Panel

| data-sort-value="Black, Frances" |Frances Black

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent
{{small|(Civil Engagement Group)}}

| 8 June 2016

data-sort-value="Crowe, Ollie" |Ollie Crowe

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 29 June 2020

data-sort-value="Davitt, Aidan" |Aidan Davitt

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 8 June 2016

data-sort-value="Fitzpatrick,Mary" |Mary Fitzpatrick

| 120x120px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3| Fianna Fáil

| 29 June 2020

data-sort-value="Harmon, Laura" |Laura Harmon{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Labour

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Kelleher, Garret" |Garret Kelleher{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3| Fine Gael

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Keogan, Sharon" |Sharon Keogan

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent

| 29 June 2020

data-sort-value="Murphy, Conor" |Conor Murphy{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

| colspan=3 | Sinn Féin

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Nelson Murray, Linda" |Linda Nelson Murray{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3| Fine Gael

| 30 January 2025

rowspan=11 | Labour Panel

| data-sort-value="Andrews, Chris" |Chris Andrews{{cref|+}}{{cref|#}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

| colspan=3 | Sinn Féin

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Casey, Pat" |Pat Casey

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 29 June 2020

data-sort-value="Cosgrove, Nessa" |Nessa Cosgrove{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3| Labour

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Craughwell, Gerard" |Gerard Craughwell

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent

| 14 October 2014

data-sort-value="Duffy, Mark" |Mark Duffy{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3| Fine Gael

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Gallagher, Robbie" |Robbie Gallagher

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 8 June 2016

data-sort-value="Kennelly, Mike" |Mike Kennelly{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3| Fine Gael

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="McCormack, Maria" |Maria McCormack{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Sinn Féin}}" |

| colspan=3 | Sinn Féin

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Murphy O'Mahony, Margaret" |Margaret Murphy O'Mahony{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="OReilly, Joe" |Joe O'Reilly

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fine Gael

| 8 June 2016

data-sort-value="Stephenson, Patricia" |Patricia Stephenson{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Social Democrats (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Social Democrats

| 30 January 2025

rowspan=3 | National University of Ireland

| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alice-Mary" |Alice-Mary Higgins

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent
{{small|(Civil Engagement Group)}}

| 8 June 2016

data-sort-value="McDowell, Michael" |Michael McDowell

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent

| 8 June 2016

data-sort-value="Mullen, Rónán" |Rónán Mullen

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent

| 13 September 2007

rowspan=3 | Dublin University

| data-sort-value="Clonan, Tom" |Tom Clonan

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent

| 5 April 2022

data-sort-value="McCarthy, Aubrey" |Aubrey McCarthy{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent

| 30 January 2025

data-sort-value="Ruane, Lynn" |Lynn Ruane

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |

| colspan=3 | Independent
{{small|(Civil Engagement Group)}}

| 8 June 2016

rowspan=11 | Taoiseach's nominees

| data-sort-value="Boyle, Manus" |Manus Boyle{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3| Fine Gael

| 7 February 2025

data-sort-value="Bradley, Nikki" |Nikki Bradley

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fine Gael

| 10 July 2024

data-sort-value="Clifford-Lee, Lorraine" |Lorraine Clifford-Lee

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 8 June 2016

data-sort-value="Comyn, Alison" |Alison Comyn{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3| Fianna Fáil

| 7 February 2025

data-sort-value="Ní Chuilinn, Evanne" |Evanne Ní Chuilinn{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3| Fine Gael

| 7 February 2025

data-sort-value="Flaherty, Joe" |Joe Flaherty{{cref|#}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3| Fianna Fáil

| 10 December 2024

data-sort-value="Goldsboro, Imelda" |Imelda Goldsboro{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 7 February 2025

data-sort-value="O'Donovan, Noel" |Noel O'Donovan{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fine Gael

| 7 February 2025

data-sort-value="Rabbitte, Anne" |Anne Rabbitte{{cref|#}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3|Fianna Fáil

| 10 December 2024

data-sort-value="Ryan, Dee" |Dee Ryan{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |

| colspan=3 | Fianna Fáil

| 7 February 2025

data-sort-value="Scahill, Gareth" |Gareth Scahill{{cref|+}}

| 90px

| style="background-color:{{party color|Fine Gael}}" |

| colspan=3| Fine Gael

| 7 February 2025

Changes

{{Constituency changes start|con=Panel}}

{{Constituency changes

|date = 9

|month = February

|year = 2025

|con = Administrative Panel

|gain = Independent politician (Ireland)

|loss = Fine Gael

|note = Martin Conway resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party{{cite news |last1=Regan |first1=Mary |title=FG senator resigns from parliamentary party after arrest for intoxication last month |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2025/0209/1495628-fg-senator/ |access-date=9 February 2025 |publisher=RTÉ News |date=9 February 2025}}}}{{end}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/senators/?term=%2Fie%2Foireachtas%2Fhouse%2Fseanad%2F27|title=27th Seanad|work=Oireachtas Members Database}}
  • {{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/find/?debateType=seanad&datePeriod=term&term=%2Fie%2Foireachtas%2Fhouse%2Fseanad%2F27|title=27th Seanad|work=Seanad Debates}}

{{Lists of members of Seanad Éireann}}

27