Politics

Parliamentary poet laureate being considered by Oireachtas Commission

Role is modelled on that of Canada and involves writing verse for use in Dáil, Seanad and at State events

Louise Bernice Halfe, the Canadian parliamentary poet laureate, receives about €27,454 every year for her poetic services. Photograph: Maxwell Photography
Louise Bernice Halfe, the Canadian parliamentary poet laureate, receives about €27,454 every year for her poetic services. Photograph: Maxwell Photography
Colin Coyle
Tue Apr 25 2023 - 05:00

The body that runs the Oireachtas is discussing whether to appoint a parliamentary poet laureate who would write poetry for use in the Dáil and Seanad and for State events.

David Stanton, a Fine Gael TD for Cork East, suggested the establishment of an Oireachtas-appointed poet after a visit to Dublin in November 2022 of the poet laureate to the Canadian parliament, Louise Bernice Halfe, who is also known by her Cree name Sky Dancer.

Ms Halfe visited Leinster House as part of a First Nations delegation at the request of the Ireland-Canada interparliamentary friendship group, hosted by Deputy Stanton. Ms Halfe and her colleagues also met President Michael D Higgins during her visit.

On December 6th, Mr Stanton wrote to Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl to ask him and members of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, the cross-party body that runs Leinster House, to appoint a parliamentary poet laureate for Ireland.

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“I note that a number of legislative assemblies around the world have such positions in place already. It seems to me that Ireland, which is renowned for great poets whose work is often quoted by presidents and political leaders both at home and internationally could benefit greatly if we had a resident poet laureate associated with the Dáil and Seanad,” he said.

He said the Irish poet laureate could be modelled on Canada’s, whose roles include “the promotion of the importance and value of poetry”. The TD said she also composes poetry which can be used on special occasions in parliament, sponsors poetry readings and advises the parliamentary librarian on acquisitions.

Mr Ó Fearghaíl agreed to add the suggestion to the agenda for the next meeting of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission later that month. After a brief discussion of the issue, the members of the commission requested a briefing paper be prepared by the Oireachtas research unit on the role, including its likely cost.

The briefing, released under the Freedom of Information Act, notes Canada is the only country with a parliamentary poet laureate, with one representing the federal government and another representing the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The Canadian parliamentary poet laureate receives about €27,454 every year.

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During the debate in Canada about appointing a parliamentary poet, one politician, Cheryl Gallant, called for safeguards to be built into the position in case the poet provoked controversy, the briefing notes show. “Poets have the ability to stir up powerful emotions in the same way as a writer,” she warned.

The briefing states there are over 1,500 published poets in Canada, the largest number per capita in the world.

“No other parliamentary poet laureates have been identified,” it states, although it points out there are national poet laureates in the UK, US and New Zealand, as well as national poets in Scotland and Wales. Although Ireland has an Irish Fiction Laureate who receives €50,000 annually, there is no poet laureate for Ireland.

While parliamentary poet laureates are rare, other parliaments occasionally commission poems for significant occasions, the briefing noted. In 2021, the Welsh Assembly commissioned Literature Wales, the national company for the development of literature, to help compose a poem to mark the opening of the sixth assembly.