# Seanad

All time

# Mind = blown

Look at how incredibly complicated it is to elect Senators...

Our minds are blown. Our heads hurt.

10.2k

Apr 20th 2015, 6:45 PM

# totally rad

Check out these VERY radical proposals to reform the Seanad

The Seanad Working Group on Reform has published a report calling for overhaul of the upper house.

19.1k

Apr 13th 2015, 10:45 PM

# Controversial

Senator suggests marriage referendum money better spent testing gay people for HIV

Senator Jim Walsh told the Seanad the idea was put to him by a gay man he met last weekend.

29.9k

157

Mar 31st 2015, 7:38 PM

# marriage ref

Conservative senator Jim Walsh resigns from Fianna Fáil parliamentary party

He does not agree with certain aspects of new family law.

13.3k

Mar 26th 2015, 4:30 PM

# The High Table Interview

7 things we learned from our VERY revealing interview with Ronan Mullen

The independent senator talked same-sex marriage, adoption and being approached by Fine Gael in an interview with TheJournal.ie.

33.9k

233

Mar 26th 2015, 3:30 PM

# paulie walnuts

There was another entertaining episode of Joan v Mary Lou in the Dáil today

The Sopranos featured twice at Leaders’ Questions today.

21.5k

124

Mar 26th 2015, 1:33 PM

# State of the Nation

Enda will be the 'most popular man in the world' next week

Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Irish politics right now…

18.0k

124

Mar 12th 2015, 12:15 PM

# Abuse

Senator: I was called a Nazi and threatened with rape for supporting Palestine

Fianna Fáil’s Averil Power also spoke to TheJournal.ie about Micheál Martin’s leadership.

26.2k

Mar 4th 2015, 8:05 PM

# Abortion

'If my daughter was raped I'd never force her to carry a child'

“I’m very conscious that I was an unwanted pregnancy.”

26.1k

Mar 3rd 2015, 8:30 PM

# the scenic route

Where have you seen these political faces before?

They all have one place in common besides the Dáil.

19.1k

Mar 1st 2015, 6:15 PM

# making the leap

Out of the frying pan: Which Senators want to become TDs?

‘People criticise using the Seanad as a platform to the Dáil … but it makes sense.’

16.0k

Feb 22nd 2015, 1:25 PM

# nice prices

Lisbon Treaty vote (the 1st one) the most expensive referendum of past 15 years

They told us we’d save €20 million by scrapping the Seanad — but it cost us a fair chunk of change to hold the vote.

9.1k

Feb 16th 2015, 6:40 PM

# Trouble Brewing

Calls for Portlaoise Courthouse to be moved after 'mass gurrier brawl'

“Up to 60 people were involved in a wholesale chaotic brawl, fisticuffs and dangerous scenes of violence.”

19.4k

Feb 13th 2015, 7:30 AM

# Gambling

No cigarette-style warnings on betting slips ... for now

Do you think they’re a good idea?

13.0k

Feb 11th 2015, 8:47 PM

# reforming from the inside

Is it true that Fianna Fáil has no policies? Well, not really...

It’s a constant claim thrown at the party, but it turns out it has more than a few ideas.

10.4k

Feb 8th 2015, 8:15 AM

# Most unparliamentary

9 times when Irish politics has been really sexist

The debate about sexism in Irish politics has been reignited by Michael Lowry and his controversial note this week.

28.9k

Feb 1st 2015, 10:30 AM

# State of the Nation

Here's what Enda will be getting up to in Davos today

Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Irish politics right now…

6.2k

Jan 22nd 2015, 9:00 AM

# to join or not to join

'Lucinda or Shane never knocked at my door ... they probably knew better'

So, are any Senators going to join the new alliance or party?

21.7k

Jan 21st 2015, 10:00 AM

Voices

Opinion: Government is making a mockery of democratic reform – so we're taking matters into our own hands

It’s shameful to think that a raggle-taggle group like ours, with day jobs and no money, are making a better go of inviting public opinion than the Government itself.

Jan 15th 2015, 1:30 PM

# Vacancy

Fine Gael could have another Seanad headache on its hands

With independent senator Jillian van Turnhout in the running for Children’s Ombudsman there could be another vacancy in the upper house.

17.1k

Jan 13th 2015, 8:00 PM

# Garret the Good

Enda Kenny might appoint a senator to the Cabinet*

*If he’s re-elected.

8.6k

Dec 30th 2014, 6:30 AM

# Leinster House

QUIZ: How well do you really know these TDs and Senators?

Test your knowledge here.

18.5k

Dec 23rd 2014, 7:00 PM

# happy holi-dáil

That's all folks: Applause from senators as 4 week Christmas break announced

Over in the Dáil, it’s a markedly shorter break. TDs will be back on 14 January.

11.0k

Dec 22nd 2014, 10:06 PM

Evening Wrap

The 5 at 5 5 minutes, 5 stories, 5 o’clock.

6.5k

Dec 22nd 2014, 4:55 PM

# Confusion

Senator says no one in Fianna Fáil told him he was expelled

Mark Daly claimed he hadn’t heard from anyone in the party after he defied the whip early on Saturday morning.

22.6k

Dec 22nd 2014, 3:43 PM

# All Talk

The Seanad debated the Water Services Bill well into the wee hours

Senators are now expected to return on Monday to continue the debate.

25.8k

Dec 20th 2014, 8:15 AM

# State of the Nation

Will the Seanad reject water charges?

Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Irish politics right now…

10.3k

Dec 18th 2014, 9:00 AM

# Close Call

'Sickened by the threats': Will Senators reject water charges?

“If the Seanad wants to be taken seriously it must do the right thing and not be merely a rubber stamp for the Government’s brutal austerity policies.”

13.1k

123

Dec 16th 2014, 4:00 PM

# that is most unparliamentary language

6 of the dirtiest insults thrown across the floors of the Dáil and Seanad

Featuring: Scumbags, fannies, turnips and a certain future Taoiseach.

29.4k

Dec 7th 2014, 6:30 PM

# The Upper Room

Over a year after the Seanad referendum, there will be reforms

A working group will report back to the government by March.

5.7k

Dec 7th 2014, 4:02 PM

# Your Say

Poll: How often do you tune into Oireachtas TV?

Organisers aren’t expecting thousands of viewers.

11.0k

Nov 30th 2014, 9:40 AM

# Advertising

The Oireachtas really wants you to know it broadcasts the Dáil on TV

The parliament’s communications unit is stepping up an advertising campaign.

6.8k

Nov 30th 2014, 8:30 AM

# bare city

WATCH: David Norris condemns 'knickers shops and ignorant buildings' in Dublin city

“What I have seen has absolutely horrified me.”

33.1k

Nov 25th 2014, 10:39 PM

# birth certs

Adoption group urges support for new law to stop adoptees 'feeling like pariahs'

James Reilly has said that the Adoption Bill will benefit from further consultation.

7.4k

Nov 19th 2014, 3:40 PM

# ADOPTION RIGHTS

'My son died believing I had rejected him': Philomena Lee calls on Senators to support Adoption Bill

The Seanad is set to debate a Bill on the rights of adopted people this week.

10.2k

Nov 17th 2014, 9:27 AM

# Frankly speaking

Frank Flannery was pretty astounded with the way Fine Gael handled McNulty-gate

The former Fine Gael strategist has had his say on McNulty-gate.

16.5k

Nov 10th 2014, 10:00 AM

# Seanadigans

There was an almighty row over Phil Hogan and Irish Water in the Seanad today

The upper house was suspended three times this afternoon. Here’s what happened….

23.9k

117

Nov 5th 2014, 3:30 PM

# Notes on a scandal

Here is John McNulty's handwritten note accepting his controversial state board appointment

The former Fine Gael Seanad candidate’s nomination to the board of IMMA caused a huge political crisis recently.

14.8k

Oct 29th 2014, 3:37 PM

After senators agreed to recognise the state Palestine, will TDs follow suit?

Fianna Fáil are pushing for a Dáil vote on the issue.

6.4k

151

Oct 24th 2014, 4:48 PM

# New Job

Overlooked Seanad hopeful who quit Fine Gael is now working for Lucinda Creighton

Samantha Long is working as a secretary for the former Fine Gael minister.

11.7k

Oct 23rd 2014, 10:20 AM