# Seanad Éireann

All time

# Giggles

VIDEO: Alan Shatter has a laughing fit... in the Seanad

What’s got the justice minister so amused? Apparently it’s the plethora of acronyms contained in his own speech…

5.5k

May 3rd 2012, 11:41 AM

Voices

Column: David Norris's Privacy Bill recycles a flawed earlier version

Secretary of the Irish NUJ, Séamus Dooley, on his concerns about the recent legislation proposed by a number of independent senators.

Mar 31st 2012, 8:30 AM

# Press Freedom

Shatter launches stinging attack on 'contrived' journalism

The minister for justice tells a Seanad debate that some journalists omit important facts in order to scandalise the public.

3.4k

Mar 28th 2012, 1:28 PM

# Courts

Callely in legal action over newspaper reports of property ownership

The former senator is seeking legal action against the publishers of the Irish Independent and the Irish Mail on Sunday.

6.1k

Mar 19th 2012, 8:00 AM

# Oireachtas

Open democracy: Leinster House to offer public tours from tomorrow

Members of the public can now tour the houses of the Oireachtas every Monday and on non-sitting Fridays without having to book beforehand.

3.4k

Mar 15th 2012, 6:25 PM

# Gender Quotas

Government stops independent Senators’ move to raise gender quotas

Independent senators had wanted new laws to require at least 40 per cent of candidates to be from either gender.

1.8k

Mar 15th 2012, 2:01 PM

# Daily Fix

The Daily Fix: Saturday

Your essential round-up of all the day’s main news and the bits and bobs that you may have missed.

4.9k

Feb 25th 2012, 7:40 PM

# RTÉ

RTÉ Board to be told today that 'it can't run a deficit'

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte assures senators after questions on whether taxpayer is “getting bang for our buck” with licence fee.

2.6k

Feb 23rd 2012, 8:00 AM

# media standards

Pat Rabbitte criticises descent of media into "corrosive cynicism"

The Minister for Communications was leading statements on media standards in the Seanad – and hearing concerns from senators about the future of the media in Ireland.

3.3k

Feb 22nd 2012, 5:33 PM

# Seanad

David Norris says tabloid editor told him stories about him were "payback"

Independent senator and former Presidential candidate scathing of media standards during discussion in Seanad.

6.6k

Feb 22nd 2012, 3:33 PM

# fiscal compact

Harsh words in Seanad over cut on EU-IMF interest

Lucinda Creighton says she would refuse to return to the Seanad if FF members “accuse me of being a liar”.

2.3k

Feb 16th 2012, 1:42 PM

# Expenses

Government blocks Seanad move to abolish unvouched independents’ allowance

An amendment moved by independent Senators making the ‘leaders’ allowance’ vouched has been defeated by the government.

3.4k

Feb 15th 2012, 3:14 PM

# Expenses

Former FF senator given €3,100 expenses for role he couldn't fulfil

Pat Moylan was paid €3100.05 in expenses across April and May – for being the Cathaoireach of a Seanad that no longer existed.

7.3k

Feb 5th 2012, 4:19 PM

# Seanad Expenses

Here’s how much the Seanad received in expenses last year

The figures for Senators’ expenses for December allow us to build a full picture of the payments made to each member last year.

6.6k

Feb 4th 2012, 6:00 AM

# Fracking

Senator says we should allow fracking - to create jobs

Feargal Quinn suggests that companies could be asked to put up a bond equal to the clean-up cost of any possible environmental damage.

5.7k

117

Jan 20th 2012, 7:15 AM

# Expenses

Ireland’s ‘best-kept secret’: 12 senators receiving €23k annual 'leaders' allowance'

12 independent members of the Seanad are entitled to a little-known allowance of around €23,000 per year, TDs are told.

11.6k

Jan 12th 2012, 5:05 PM

# Expenses

Callely win could land taxpayer with €500k legal bill

The Public Accounts Committee is told that Ivor Callely’s legal fees for his Supreme Court challenge could reach hundreds of thousands.

6.0k

Jan 12th 2012, 11:46 AM

# The Law

26 bills - but no referendums - on government's list of Spring bills

The government’s draft agenda for the Dáil’s spring term includes 26 bills to be published, and another 25 currently in draft.

2.3k

Jan 11th 2012, 5:51 PM

# Manslaughter

Senator's bill would make 'corporate manslaughter' a criminal offence

Legislation proposed by FF senator Mark Daly would criminalise companies who breach a duty of care to a person who then dies.

2.5k

Dec 22nd 2011, 7:00 AM

# Budget 2012

GALLERY: A day of Budget protests at Leinster House

Various lobby and protest groups held demonstrations in Dublin today, to coincide with the Budget announcements. Here’s a sample.

2.7k

Dec 6th 2011, 9:53 PM

# Seanad Éireann

Mary Robinson addresses the Seanad on its role in her career

Watch live from the Seanad as former President Mary Robinson speaks about its role in her career as a human rights activist.

986

Nov 24th 2011, 11:46 AM

# Balancing the books

WATCH: Eamonn Coghlan gets Senators exercised - literally - in the Seanad

Eamonn Coghlan asked members of the Seanad to try out some balance exercises during a debate on PE teaching yesterday.

2.6k

Nov 24th 2011, 10:50 AM

# Seanad Éireann

David Norris to lodge Seanad complaint over media treatment

David Norris says he has been subjected to abusive media tactics similar to those being discussed at the UK’s Leveson Inquiry.

2.9k

Nov 22nd 2011, 3:04 PM

# Oireachtas

First women-only Oireachtas meeting sparks controversy

Labour’s Joanna Tuffy has objected to the ‘pigeonholing’ of women in the meeting to be held tonight.

2.6k

Nov 9th 2011, 12:31 PM

# Your Say

Poll: Should there be a gender quota in general elections?

As Mary Mitchell-O’Connor hosts an all-women meeting of TDs and senators, we are asking you: Should there be a minimum quota on the number of women putting themselves forward for political election?

3.0k

112

Nov 9th 2011, 11:27 AM

# Race for the Áras

Higgins statement on Norris and bank guarantee ‘released in error’

Press release had admonished Norris on his bank guarantee bill voting record – but today, both Presidential candidates insist there is “no spat” between them and Higgins had not seen nor approved the release.

1.5k

Oct 20th 2011, 4:30 PM

# Broadcasting

Senator lashes lack of media solidarity for Sam Smyth

Labour senator John Whelan criticises members of the media for not offering public support to Today FM’s Sam Smyth.

2.1k

Oct 19th 2011, 4:05 PM

# Your Say

Poll: How will you vote on the referendum on Oireachtas inquiries?

Today we’re asking how you plan to vote on one of the two referendums which are taking place on 27 October alongside the Presidential election.

3.3k

Oct 17th 2011, 12:22 PM

# Race for the Áras

Norris received TCD disability pension because of Hepatitis diagnosis

David Norris confirms he received a disability pension from Trinity College, after being diagnosed with Hepatitis in 1994.

4.6k

136

Oct 5th 2011, 12:22 PM

# Race for the Áras

Senator says requests for Norris support 'feel like harassment'

Jillian van Turnhout says some people asking her to nominate David Norris for the Presidency “have been abusive”.

2.6k

100

Sep 23rd 2011, 11:12 AM

# Lobbying

Government to block "bizarre proposal" restricting lobbying of judges

The government is to vote against John Crown’s bill which would require TDs and Senators to declare any contact with judges.

1.1k

Sep 21st 2011, 11:01 AM

Voices

Column: I'm in the Seanad now - but I think it needs to change or die

Kathryn Reilly is only 22 but her life changed “spectacularly” when she became a Sinn Féin senator this year. Here she explains how she did it – and what she has found since she got to the ‘upper house’.

Sep 17th 2011, 9:15 AM

# Seanad Expenses

Senator donating entire Seanad salary to cancer research

Prof John Crown is also putting his parliamentary expenses towards the employment of a political policy researcher.

2.1k

Sep 10th 2011, 1:12 PM

# Amhrán na Laoch?

FG senator wants to change words of National Anthem

Jim Darcy told the Seanad that the words ‘Sinne Fianna Fáil’ were “appropriated” and should be changed back.

3.8k

Jul 26th 2011, 12:53 PM

# School's Out

In numbers: the first term of the new Dáil and Seanad

The Dáil wraps up for the summer holidays today. Here’s some figures as to how things have gone so far.

499

Jul 21st 2011, 2:19 PM

Leinster House strikes €300,000 deal for staff night-time taxi service

Staff working after 10pm are entitled to take taxis home – but plans for Dáil reform should cut how often they’re used.

858

Jul 18th 2011, 10:30 AM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Nine things to know this morning, including a row between Church and State, the wrong type of Roscommon U-turn, and a bad day for Lady Gaga…

2.3k

Jul 16th 2011, 9:06 AM