The 26th Seanad was in office from 2020 to 2025. The 2020 Seanad election followed the 2020 general election to the 33rd Dáil on 8 February. The Constitution of Ireland required a general election for Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), to take place no later than ninety days after the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil on 14 January 2020. There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels by serving politicians, for which polling closed on 30 March 2020; 6 were elected in two university constituencies, for which polling closed on 31 March 2020; and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach (Micheál Martin) on 27 June 2020. It remained in office until the close of poll for the 27th Seanad, on 30 January 2025.
Of the 60 members, twenty-four (40%) were women, and thirty (50%) were first-time senators. Five senators (8%) were members of the LGBT+ community. 33 members (55%) of the 26th Seanad were unsuccessful candidates at the 2020 general election, 10 of those (17%) being outgoing TDs who failed to get re-elected. In total 41 members (68%) of the 26th Seanad had contested general elections in the past, while 15 (25%) were former TDs. Eileen Flynn became the first Irish Traveller woman to be a member of the Seanad.
Electoral system There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 senators are elected by vocational panels, six elected by the two university constituencies, and eleven are nominated by the Taoiseach. Three seats are elected by graduates of the four colleges of the National University of Ireland (University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Galway and Maynooth University) and three seats are elected by graduates of Dublin University (as Trinity College Dublin is the sole constituent college, this is often referred to as the Trinity College constituency).
Article 18.8 of the Constitution requires that an election for Seanad Éireann take place not later than 90 days after a dissolution of the Dáil. On 21 January, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy signed the orders for the Seanad election.
Timetable 24 February 2020: deadline for proposals for nominations to the vocational panels by nominating bodies (civic society groups) 2 March 2020: deadline for proposals for nominations to the vocational panels by Members of the Oireachtas (President of Ireland, TDs and Senators) 9 March 2020: Seanad Returning Officer completed the panels of candidates 16 March 2020: postal balloting began 30 March 2020, 11 a.m.: polling closed for the five special panels, counting of votes commences 31 March 2020, 11 a.m.: polling closed in the two university constituencies 27 June 2020: Taoiseach's nominees announced
Cathaoirleach Cathaoirleach Mark Daly (29 June 2020 – 16 December 2022) Jerry Buttimer (16 December 2022 – 3 December 2024) Vacant (since 3 December 2024) Leas-Cathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer (29 June 2020 – 21 August 2020) Joe O'Reilly (22 August 2020 – 16 December 2022) Mark Daly (16 December 2022 – 29 January 2025)
The coalition agreement between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party saw a rotation between the role of Taoiseach between the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin served as Taoiseach from June 2020 to December 2022, with Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar serving as Taoiseach from that date, with Simon Harris succeeding as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach in April 2024. Similarly, the agreement provided that the position of Cathaoirleach in the Seanad would rotate between the parties.
On 29 June 2020, Mark Daly was proposed as Cathaoirleach by Lisa Chambers (FF) and seconded by Denis O'Donovan (FF). Niall Ó Donnghaile (SF) was proposed by Paul Gavan (SF) and seconded by Elisha McCallion (SF). Daly was elected by a vote of 46 to 6. On 7 July 2020, Jerry Buttimer (FG) was proposed as Leas-Cathaoirleach by Martin Conway (FG) and seconded by Diarmuid Wilson (FF). Fintan Warfield (SF) was proposed by Niall Ó Donnghaile (SF) and seconded by Lynn Boylan (SF). Buttimer was elected by a vote of 43 to 6.
On 21 August 2020, following his involvement in the Oireachtas Golf Society scandal, Buttimer resigned as Leas-Cathaoirleach. On 18 September 2020, Joe O'Reilly (FG) was proposed as Leas-Cathaoirleach by Regina Doherty (FG) and seconded by John McGahon (FG). Fintan Warfield (SF) was proposed by Niall Ó Donnghaile (SF) and seconded by Elisha McCallion (SF). O'Reilly was elected to the position.
On 16 December 2022, Daly resigned as Cathaoirleach and O'Reilly resigned as Leas-Cathaoirleach. Jerry Buttimer was proposed by Regina Doherty and seconded by Diarmuid Wilson. Victor Boyhan (Ind) was proposed by Alice-Mary Higgins (Ind) and seconded by Tom Clonan (Ind). Buttimer was elected by a vote of 35 to 8. This was followed by the election of Mark Daly as Leas-Cathaoirleach. He was proposed by Lisa Chambers (FF) and seconded by Regina Doherty and elected unopposed.
Jerry Buttimer was elected to the 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election held on 29 November, leaving the office of Cathaoirleach vacant.
Composition of the 26th Seanad
rowspan="2" colspan="2" Vocational panels NUI DU Nominated TotalAdminAgriCult & EducInd & CommLabour Fianna Fáil 3 4 2 3 4 0 0 4 20 Fine Gael 2 3 2 2 3 0 0 4 16 Sinn Féin 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 5 Labour Party 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 5 Green Party 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 4 Independent 0 1 0 2 1 3 2 1 10 Total 7 11 5 9 11 3 3 11 60 Government parties are denoted with bullets ()
Effect of changes This table shows the political composition of the 26th Seanad at the start of its term and after the nomination of senators to fill vacancies after the 2024 general election. June 2020Dec. 2024 20 18 16 12 5 2 5 2 4 5 10 11 10Total60
Leadership
Government On its first sitting of the 26th Seanad, the government had a majority of 40 to 20. In November 2024, on the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil, the government's majority was 41 to 17, with two vacancies.
The political leadership of the Seanad rotated on 16 December 2022, the day before the rotation of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste. Outgoing Leader of the Seanad, Regina Doherty becoming Deputy leader, and outgoing Deputy Leader Lisa Chambers becoming Leader. Outgoing Government Chief Whip of the Seanad, Senator Seán Kyne of Fine Gael also swapped positions with Seanad Government Deputy Chief Whip Senator Robbie Gallagher, who took over as Seanad Chief Whip. The leadership of the Green Party group in the Seanad also changed with Senator Pauline O'Reilly stepping down as group leader to be replaced by Senator Róisín Garvey.
Leader of the Seanad Regina Doherty (27 June 2020 – 17 December 2022) Lisa Chambers (17 December 2022 – 29 January 2025) Deputy leader of the Seanad Lisa Chambers (29 June 2020 – 17 December 2022) Regina Doherty (17 December 2022 – 26 June 2024) Seán Kyne (26 June 2024 – 29 January 2025) Leader of the Green Party in the Seanad Pauline O'Reilly (until 16 December 2022) Róisín Garvey (16 December 2022 – 29 January 2025)
Opposition
Leader of Sinn Féin in the Seanad: Niall Ó Donnghaile (2020–2023) Leader of the Labour Party in the Seanad Ivana Bacik (27 June 2020 – 9 July 2021) Rebecca Moynihan (September 2021 – 29 January 2025)
List of senators
Panel Name Portrait Party affiliation Assumed office Start of Seanad term Current Administrative PanelGarret Ahearn Fine Gael 29 June 2020Martin Conway Fine Gael 25 May 2011Mark Daly Fianna Fáil 13 September 2007Rebecca Moynihan Labour 29 June 2020Niall Ó Donnghaile Sinn Féin 8 June 2016 Mal O'Hara Green 8 April 2024Fiona O'Loughlin Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020Diarmuid Wilson Fianna Fáil 12 September 2002 Agricultural PanelNiall Blaney Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020Victor Boyhan Independent 8 June 2016Lynn Boylan Sinn Féin 29 June 2020Paddy Burke Fine Gael 17 February 1993Maria Byrne Fine Gael 21 April 2021Paul Daly Fianna Fáil 8 June 2016Michael D'Arcy Fine Gael 29 June 2020Pippa Hackett Green 5 November 2019Annie Hoey Labour 29 June 2020Tim Lombard Fine Gael 8 June 2016Eugene Murphy Fianna Fáil Independent 29 June 2020Denis O'Donovan Fianna Fáil 13 September 2007 Cultural and Educational PanelMalcolm Byrne Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020Lisa Chambers Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020Seán Kyne Fine Gael 20 February 2020John McGahon Fine Gael 29 June 2020Fintan Warfield Sinn Féin 8 June 2016 Industrial and Commercial PanelCatherine Ardagh Fianna Fáil 8 June 2016Frances Black Independent 8 June 2016Micheál Carrigy Fine Gael 29 June 2020Ollie Crowe Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020Aidan Davitt Fianna Fáil 8 June 2016Gerry Horkan Fianna Fáil 21 April 2021Elisha McCallion Sinn Féin 29 June 2020Sharon Keogan Independent 29 June 2020Mark Wall Labour 29 June 2020Barry Ward Fine Gael 29 June 2020 Labour PanelJerry Buttimer Fine Gael 8 June 2016Pat Casey Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020Shane Cassells Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020Gerard Craughwell Independent 14 October 2014John Cummins Fine Gael 29 June 2020Robbie Gallagher Fianna Fáil 8 June 2016Paul Gavan Sinn Féin 8 June 2016Joe O'Reilly Fine Gael 8 June 2016Pauline O'Reilly Green 29 June 2020Ned O'Sullivan Fianna Fáil 13 September 2007Marie Sherlock Labour 29 June 2020 National University of IrelandAlice-Mary Higgins Independent 8 June 2016Michael McDowell Independent 8 June 2016Rónán Mullen Independent 13 September 2007 Dublin UniversityIvana Bacik Labour 13 September 2007Tom Clonan Independent 5 April 2022David Norris Independent 25 April 1987Lynn Ruane Independent 8 June 2016 Taoiseach's nomineesNikki Bradley Fine Gael 10 July 2024Lorraine Clifford-Lee Fianna Fáil 8 June 2016Emer Currie Fine Gael 29 June 2020Regina Doherty Fine Gael 29 June 2020Aisling Dolan Fine Gael 29 June 2020Timmy Dooley Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020Alan Farrell Fine Gael 10 December 2024Mary Fitzpatrick Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020Joe Flaherty Fianna Fáil 10 December 2024Eileen Flynn Independent 29 June 2020Róisín Garvey Green 29 June 2020Vincent P. Martin Green 29 June 2020Erin McGreehan Fianna Fáil 29 June 2020Anne Rabbitte Fianna Fáil 10 December 2024Mary Seery Kearney Fine Gael 29 June 2020
Changes
References
External links