23rd Seanad | |||||||||
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Overview | |||||||||
Legislative body | Seanad Éireann | ||||||||
Jurisdiction | Ireland | ||||||||
Meeting place | Leinster House | ||||||||
Term | 13 September 2007 – 20 April 2011 | ||||||||
Government |
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Members | 60 | ||||||||
Cathaoirleach | Pat Moylan | ||||||||
Leas-Chathaoirleach | Paddy Burke | ||||||||
Leader of the Seanad | Donie Cassidy | ||||||||
Sessions | |||||||||
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The 23rd Seanad was in office from 2007 to 2011. An election to Seanad Éireann, the Senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), followed the 2007 general election to the 30th Dáil on 24 May. 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 were nominated by the Taoiseach. Under the Constitution of Ireland, a general election for the Seanad was required within 90 days of the dissolution of the 29th Dáil on 30 April 2007. Polls closed on 24 July 2007, and the Taoiseach's nominees were announced by Bertie Ahern on 3 August 2007. The 23rd Seanad first met at Leinster House on 13 September 2007.[1] The term of the 23rd Seanad was from 13 September 2007 to 20 April 2011, remaining in session until the close of poll for the 24th Seanad.