Under the Irish Political System, Ireland is a parliamentary democracy that includes the constitution of Ireland, which is the basic law of the state. It states all legislative, executive and judicial powers of the government. The National Parliament or Oireachtas is made up of the President (an tUachtaran) and two houses: Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann. The sole and exclusive power of making laws for the State is vested in the Oireachtas. The functions and powers of the President, Dail and Seanad derive from the Constitution of Ireland (Bunreacht na hEireann) and law.
Dail Eireann Dail Eireann is one of the houses of the Oireachtas, its main role refers to legislative matters which are discussed and debated in the Dail, when it meets in Leinster House Dublin. The role of the Oireachtas within the Dail is to debate and discuss Government issues and to pass a bill without any amendment, reject it completely or make an amendment to the bill which is a proposal for a legislation for law. We are currently in our 32nd Dail Eireann to date. The Powers of Dail Eireann include the exclusive power to elect a Taoiseach, approve his nominee appointments of government ministers and attorney general, approve the budget, sanction arrangements which incorporate money related arrangements, provided they don’t conflict with the Constitution of Ireland, endorse a presentation of war, start ‘money bills’ or bills which bring about a charge on general society accounts, on the suggestion of the Government as it were and name the Comptroller and Auditor General. Within the structure of the Dail, the country is divided into 40 constituencies and every constituency must elect at least three members to the Dail.
As far as possible, the ratio of population to TD must be equal in each constituency. The number of Dail Members is not fixed, but the Constitution provides that there must be at least one TD for every 20,000 to 30,000 people. If a vacancy occurs at the Dail, the seat will be filled by a bye-election. The Dail usually meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and also on the first Friday of every month. The maximum life of the Dail is 5 years, although at any time the Taoiseach may advise the President to dissolve the Dail.
