| 26th Seanad | |||||||||||||
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| Overview | |||||||||||||
| Legislative body | Seanad Éireann | ||||||||||||
| Jurisdiction | Ireland | ||||||||||||
| Meeting place | Leinster House | ||||||||||||
| Election | 30–31 March 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Government |
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| Members | 60 | ||||||||||||
| Cathaoirleach | Jerry Buttimer (FG) | ||||||||||||
| Leas-Chathaoirleach | Mark Daly (FF) | ||||||||||||
| Leader of the Seanad | Lisa Chambers (FF) | ||||||||||||
| Deputy leader of the Seanad | Seán Kyne (FG) | ||||||||||||
| Leader of the Opposition | Rebecca Moynihan (Lab) | ||||||||||||
| Sessions | |||||||||||||
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The 26th Seanad has been in office since June 2020. 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 will remain in office until the close of poll for the 27th Seanad, which is scheduled for 30 January 2025.
Of the 60 members, twenty-four (40%) are women, and thirty (50%) are first-time Senators. Five Senators (8%) are members of the LGBT+ community.[1] 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 is the first Irish Traveller to be a member of the Seanad.[2]
- ^ "Election of Cathaoirleach – Seanad Éireann (26th Seanad)". Oireachtas Debates. 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ Holland, Kitty. "Seanad nominees welcomed by National Women's Council". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.