Death announced of former senator Billy Lawless who built successful pub business in Chicago
Galway native was nominated to the Seanad in 2016 by then taoiseach Enda Kenny
Seanad Éireann
The Irish Times view on Seanad reform: too little, too late
It was only after decades of procrastination that the political establishment was forced into action following a legal challenge
‘Accelerated timeline’ for passing of Finance Bill to facilitate early general election, says Chambers
Coalition party leaders agreed on Monday night that polling day will be this year but not on an exact date
McDonald to make ‘unequivocal’ apology in Dáil to teenager who received inappropriate texts
SF leader confirms she will correct Dáil record after ex-party member confirms he was 16, not 17 when messages were sent
Crisis upon crisis: What next for Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn Féin as an election looms?
The party faces strategic problems over where it positions itself and who its core voters are. And as it’s trying to figure all this out, it gets hit with one controversy after another
Controversial hate speech provisions removed from criminal justice legislation as Bill passed in Seanad
New laws stalled in Upper House after criticism by backbenchers, Senators, free speech groups and tech billionaire Elon Musk
Who is Niall Ó Donnghaile, the former Sinn Féin senator who resigned over ‘inappropriate’ texts to teenager?
A former Lord Mayor of Belfast, he resigned his Seanad seat last year citing health reasons
Private college graduates to be excluded from extension of Seanad election voting rights
Minister says legislation is ‘genuine attempt’ to start reform as university Senators claim Bill is ‘disgrace’, and will keep Upper House as ‘rubber stamp’
Showdown on gender definition in hate crime Bill looms
Government plans to push through remaining stages of legislation without hate speech elements against backdrop of dispute over meaning of terms used
Micheál Martin says he was never briefed about alleged Russian spy in the Oireachtas
Peadar Tóibín says Senators ‘sniggered like giddy children’ as they denied being reported infiltrator during Seanad sitting
‘Most significant reform in planning legislation since 2000’ passes in Dáil
Controversial Planning and Development Bill a key part of plans to address housing crisis, but Opposition says it will add to delays and costs
No spies coming in from the cold in Seanad as Senators rule themselves out as Russian agent
Tongue-in-cheek denials follow recent reports that an Oireachtas member had allegedly been recruited by Russian intelligence
Leinster House fobs for expenses lost or broken 148 times by TD and Senators
Politicians need to ‘clock in’ with fobs 120 days a year to claim travel and accommodation expenses but no requirement to clock out
‘A remarkable woman’: Tributes paid to former Fianna Fáil minister Mary O’Rourke after her death
Ms O’Rourke was deputy leader of party between 1994 and 2002 and became Seanad leader afterwards
Leo Varadkar says vote on Irish unity could involve a ‘two-stage referendum’
Former taoiseach says people could first vote on the idea in principle before getting a subsequent confirmatory vote on a proposed new constitution
Exclusive Seanad voting rights for TCD and NUI graduates to be scrapped
Six senators to be elected in future by all graduates of higher education institutions - but not until 2030
Servant of a new Ireland: Brian Maye on former unionist John Bagwell
The Seanad member survived gun shots, a kidnapping and the burning down of his ancestral home at Marlfield
Man (40s) arrested over ramming of Government buildings known to gardaí for previous offences
Social media posts including death threats were made in the hours before attacks and are being investigated
Our party whip system is too severe. Politicians should be able to vote with their conscience
British and American systems do not quake at the thought of governments losing votes via their supporters who disagree with the majority
What is in the mammoth Planning Bill and will it help people get a home more quickly?
One of the biggest pieces of legislation in the history of the State is intended to speed up housing supply and will allow for restructuring of An Bord Pleanála
New process to strip Irish citizenship is passed by Oireachtas
Minister for Justice says new procedure ‘just and fair’ in process used less than 10 times since 1956
Chinese ambassador complains to Oireachtas about Taiwan visit by five Senators
Two Fianna Fáil, one Fine Gael and two Independent representatives spending five days in country
David Norris’s Seanad seat unlikely to be filled before general election
Byelection for the vacant TCD seat would likely cost more than €500,000
Seanad is an institution chosen by graduates and stuffed with political wannabes
With reform repeatedly promised and not delivered, the only way to fix the lack of Seanad reform it is at the next Dáil election
Planning Bill criticised as being like ‘tablets of 10 commandments descending from Mount Sinai’
Senator describes 747-page Bill as ‘telephone directory’ and a ‘massive supertanker coming to dock in a very small port’
Planning regulator will have ‘unchecked power’ under controversial legislation, Seanad hears
Labour Senator warns of ‘fundamental flaw’ as Upper House debates third largest Bill in history of State
Senator Róisín Garvey elected as Green Party’s new deputy leader
Rebel backbencher Neasa Hourigan loses out on position in narrow vote
Seanad to sit three days next week to pass two key Government Bills
Opposition sees sign of autumn election as Coalition moves to have legislation passed on planning, and designating the UK as a safe third country
Simon Harris ‘happy’ for John McGahon to seek Fine Gael nomination despite court fine for assault and battery
Taoiseach spoke as he marked the appointment of Nikki Bradley to the Seanad in place of Regina Doherty
Taoiseach to appoint Donegal disability campaigner to Seanad
Nikki Bradley, a cancer survivor, is a motivational speaker who works with disability organisations
Legislation preventing protests and ‘incidents of intimidation’ outside homes of politicians passed by Seanad
McEntee says there is right to peaceful protest but protests outside homes ‘has moved into a more sinister and worrying route’
Opposition criticises Donnelly over use of €19m earmarked for spinal surgeries
Funds not used in intended manner and waiting lists remain ‘unacceptably long’, says Minister for Health
Fine Gael Senator says he acted in self-defence during alleged assault outside pub
John McGahon being sued by man who says member of Seanad ‘rained’ punches to his head as he lay on the ground
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Election 2024
Full general election coverage including analysis and results for all 43 constituencies
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices