Jerry Buttimer
The election of the Cathaoirleach
Senator Jerry Buttimer was elected Cathaoirleach by Seanad Éireann on 16 December 2022.
The role of the Cathaoirleach
At its first meeting following a general election, Seanad Éireann elects a Cathaoirleach, or chairperson, who presides impartially and with authority over the business and proceedings of the House.
The Standing Orders of Seanad Éireann prescribe the powers and duties of the Cathaoirleach in relation to parliamentary business e.g. the conduct of debate, amendments to Bills and motions, disorderly conduct. Under the Constitution of Ireland, Seanad Éireann also elects a Leas-Chathaoirleach, or deputy chairperson.
The Cathaoirleach is the sole judge of order and has a range of powers and functions, namely:
- calls on Members to speak and all speeches must be addressed to the Chair
- puts such questions to the House as are required, supervises divisions and declares the results
- has authority to suppress disorder, to enforce prompt obedience to rulings and may order Members to withdraw from the House or name them for suspension by the House itself for a period
- in the case of great disorder can suspend or adjourn the House
An important power reserved to the Cathaoirleach is the power to accept and put a motion for the closure of a debate when, in his or her view, the issue has been adequately debated.
Each sitting of the House is governed by an Order Paper which is prepared under the Cathaoirleach’s direction. Motions and amendments are examined individually to ensure they comply with Standing Orders and precedents. The Cathaoirleach also has discretion to shorten the formal notice required for motions and amendments.
The Cathaoirleach is Chairperson of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight (Seanad Éireann), which considers matters of procedure generally and recommends any additions or amendments to the Standing Orders. The committee may also consider and report to the House as to Members' privileges.
While the Standing Orders regulate the proceedings of the House, they do not form a complete code of day-to-day procedure. They must be read in the context of how they have been applied or developed by the Chair over the years. The primary source for this is what are termed "Rulings of the Chair", which are decisions by the Chair on matters not specifically covered by Standing Orders or which apply the Standing Orders in specific circumstances. These decisions will have been made over a considerable period and by quite a number of different Chairpersons (whether as Cathaoirleach or Leas-Chathaoirleach ). The Chair is not necessarily bound by previous Rulings but, in a given situation, a Ruling is likely to be adhered to in the interests of consistency.
Under Article 15.11.2° of the Constitution of Ireland, the Cathaoirleach has and must exercise a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.
To assist in the discharge of his or her parliamentary duties, the Cathaoirleach nominates a panel of temporary Chairpersons from the membership of the Seanad.
The Cathaoirleach represents Seanad Éireann at international meetings of parliamentarians, Conferences of Speakers of Parliament, the Council of Europe, European Parliament, and, with the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, will co-host visits of foreign parliamentary delegations to Ireland.
In the absence or temporary incapacity of the President of Ireland, the Cathaoirleach is a member of the Commission which exercises and performs the powers and functions conferred on the President. The Cathaoirleach is also a member of the Council of State which aids and counsels the President in relation to the exercise and performance by him or her of certain powers.
Under the Electoral Acts, the Cathaoirleach is ex officio a member of the Appeal Board which is established to decide on any doubt, dispute or question which may arise in connection with the Register of Political Parties. The Cathaoirleach is also ex offico a member of the Appeal Board which is established to hear and decide appeals from decisions of the Seanad Returning Officer under the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947.
Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life
The Cathaoirleach, together with the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil, has established a task force to examine the type of abuse and harassment experienced by people - and disproportionately by women - in political life and to make proposals on how to safeguard and support vital participation in the civic and public sphere.
The task force met for the first time in May 2023 and a final report will be presented to the Ceann Comhairle and Cathaoirleach no later than 31 December 2023.