The Political Infrastructure of Ireland

1. The Political Infrastructure of Ireland Ivy Singleton Global Citizens February 20, 2013

2. Government Breakdown • Type: Parliamentary republic. • Independence: December 6,1921. • Constitution: December 29, 1937. • Branches: Executive--president, prime minister Legislative: Bicameral National House of Representatives and Senate Judicial, Supreme Court. • Administrative subdivisions: 26 counties, 34 local authorities. • Major political parties: Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labor, Progressive Democrats, Green Party, Sinn Fein. • Suffrage: Universal over 18

3. Constitution of Ireland (BunreachtnahÉireann) and law. • Ireland is a parliamentary democracy. • It defines the structure and powers of the courts, sets out the fundamental rights of citizens and contains a number of directive principles of social policy for the general guidance of the Oireachtas. The Constitution may be amended only by referendum.

4. Definition of Rights • Personal Rights: the Constitution declares that all citizens are equal before the law; it guarantees to defend and vindicate the personal rights of citizens in its laws: it provides that there will be no deprivation of personal liberty except in accordance with law; it provides for the right to 'habeas corpus'; it guarantees the inviolability of citizens' dwellings except in accordance with law; and it guarantees, subject to public order and morality, liberty to express freely one's convictions and opinions, the right to assemble peaceably and without arms, and the right to form associations and unions. • The Family: the State recognises the family as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, and guarantees to protect it and the institution of marriage.

5. Rights continued.. • Education: the State recognises the primacy of the family in the education of children and undertakes to provide for free primary education and to supplement and aid private educational initiative, with due regard to the rights of the parents. • Private Property: the right to own private property is guaranteed and its exercise is subject only to the exigencies of the common good. • Religion: the Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion, subject only to public order and morality.

6. Unenumerated Rights • Unenumerated Rights: In addition to the foregoing personal rights specifically provided for in the words of the Constitution, the Courts have held in a series of cases that there are other personal rights whose existence "result(s) from the Christian and democratic nature of the State", and which are implicitly guaranteed by the Constitution. • The right to bodily integrity, the right not to have one's health endangered by the State, the (qualified) right to work and to earn a livelihood, the right to marital privacy, the right of access to the courts, the right of the citizen to sue the State in court, the right to justice and fair procedures, the right to travel within and without the State, the right to marry, the rights of the unmarried mother in regard to her child.

7. Principal Government Officials • President- Michael D Higgins • Taoiseach (Prime Minister)—Enda Kenny • Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister)- Eamon Gilmer • Ambassador to the United States--Michael Collins

8. President • The president, who serves as head of state in a largely ceremonial role, is elected for a 7-year term and can be re-elected only once. The current president is Michael D Higgins .

9. The Prime Minister • Is elected by the Dail (lower house of Parliament) as the leader of the political party, or coalition of parties, which wins the most seats in the national elections, held approximately every 5 year • Current Prime Minister: Enda Kenny

10. SeanadÉireann • Bills passed by the Dáil are sent to the Seanad, where they can be amended. These amendments are considered by the Dáil. The Seanad's duty in relation to finance is limited to giving consideration, within 21 days, to Money Bills. • The Seanad may delay for a maximum of ninety days a Bill passed by the Dáil or may suggest changes in the Bill, but cannot block it permanently.

11. Membership of the Dáil • The Dáil has 166 members • The Constitution provides that the number of members of the Dáil must be such that there is not more than one member for every 20,000 people or less than one member for every 30,000 people. • The constituencies must be reviewed at least once every twelve years, with due regard to changes in the distribution of the population.

12. Membership of the Seanad The Seanad has sixty members:1. Eleven are nominated by the Taoiseach. 2. Six are selected by graduates of the University of Dublin, the National University of Ireland and such other institutions of higher education as may be designated by law. 3. The remaining forty-three are elected from five panels made up of people representing different vocational and professional interests and services. Each panel is divided into two sub-panels: one composed of candidates nominated by at least four members of the Oireachtas and another composed of candidates nominated by registered groups in the spheres of culture and education, agriculture, labour, industry and commerce, and public administration and social services.

13. Sittings of the Houses • Attendance at debates in the Houses is not compulsory and no official record is kept of the members attending • The Dáil sits for about 100 days in the year and the Seanad for about 60. • Both meet in Leinster House, Dublin.

14. Sources 1. http://www.ireland-information.com/reference/congov.htm#CON 2. http://www.traveldocs.com/index.php?page=about-ireland-2 3. http://www.eurolearn.org/destinations/ireland/government_and_economy/ 4.