Members of the 24th Seanad

Members of the Seanad from 2011 to 2016

24th Seanad

| <-| 23rd Seanad | 25th Seanad| ->

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Overview
Legislative body| Seanad Éireann
Jurisdiction| Ireland
Meeting place| Leinster House
Term| 25 May 2011 – 9 February 2016
Government| 29th Government of Ireland
Members| 60
Cathaoirleach| Paddy Burke
Leas-Chathaoirleach| Denis O'Donovan
Leader of the
Seanad| Maurice Cummins
Deputy Leader of the Seanad| Ivana Bacik
Leader of the
Opposition| Darragh O'Brien
Sessions
| 1st| 25 May 2011 – 27 July 2011

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2nd| 14 September 2011 – 20 July 2012
3rd| 19 September 2012 – 24 July 2013
4th| 20 August 2013 – 31 July 2014
5th| 17 September 2014 – 21 July 2015
6th| 23 September 2015 – 9 February 2016

The 24th Seanad was in office from 2011 to 2016. An election to Seanad Éireann, the Senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), followed the 2011 general election to the 31st Dáil on 25 February.[1][2] There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels by serving politicians, for which polling closed on 26 April; 6 were elected in two university constituencies, for which polling closed on 27 April; and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach (Enda Kenny) on 20 May 2011.[3] The 24th Seanad first met at Leinster House on 25 May 2011.[4] It remained in office until the close of poll for the 25th Seanad in April 2016.

## Cathaoirleach[edit]

On 25 May 2011, Paddy Burke was elected as the new Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.[5][6] On 1 June 2011, Denis O'Donovan was elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach.[7]

## Composition of the 24th Seanad[edit]

There are a total of 60 seats in the Seanad. There are 43 Senators elected on the vocational panels, 6 elected by universities and 11 are nominated by the Taoiseach.

The following table shows the composition by party when the 24th Seanad first met on 25 May 2011.

Origin

Party

| Vocational panels | NUI[8] | DU | Nominated | Total

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Admin | Agri | Cult & Educ | Ind & Comm | Labour
| Fine Gael | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| Fianna Fáil | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Labour | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Sinn Féin | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 |
Total | 7 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 60 |

### Effect of changes[edit]

This table shows the political composition of the 24th Seanad at the start and the end of its term.

| May 2011  | Feb. 2016

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| Fine Gael | 19 | 15
| Fianna Fáil | 14 | 10
| Labour | 12 | 11
| Sinn Féin | 3 | 2
| Renua | — | 1
| Social Democrats | — | 1
| Independent | 12 | 13
| Vacant  | —  | 7
Total | 60

## List of senators[edit]

* Note: The entries for Senators who were elected or appointed to fill vacancies are shown in italics

Name  | Panel  | Party  | Notes

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Martin Conway | Administrative Panel |  | Fine Gael |
Mark Daly | Administrative Panel |  | Fianna Fáil | Lost the Fianna Fáil party whip in December 2014.[9] Re-gained the party whip in February 2015.[10]
Michael W. D'Arcy | Administrative Panel |  | Fine Gael | Elected to Dáil at the 2016 general election
John Kelly | Administrative Panel |  | Labour |
Denis Landy | Administrative Panel |  | Labour |
Tom Sheahan | Administrative Panel |  | Fine Gael |
Diarmuid Wilson | Administrative Panel |  | Fianna Fáil |
Paul Bradford | Agricultural Panel |  | Fine Gael | Lost the Fine Gael party whip in July 2013. Joined Renua in March 2015.
Paddy Burke | Agricultural Panel |  | Fine Gael | Cathaoirleach[5]
Michael Comiskey | Agricultural Panel |  | Fine Gael |
James Heffernan | Agricultural Panel |  | Labour | Lost the Labour Party whip in December 2012. Joined the Social Democrats in September 2015.
Paschal Mooney | Agricultural Panel |  | Fianna Fáil |
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh | Agricultural Panel |  | Sinn Féin |
Brian Ó Domhnaill | Agricultural Panel |  | Fianna Fáil |
Denis O'Donovan | Agricultural Panel |  | Fianna Fáil | Leas-Chathaoirleach
Susan O'Keeffe | Agricultural Panel |  | Labour |
Pat O'Neill | Agricultural Panel |  | Fine Gael |
Jim Walsh | Agricultural Panel |  | Fianna Fáil | Resigned the Fianna Fáil party whip in March 2015[11]
Thomas Byrne | Cultural and Educational Panel |  | Fianna Fáil | Elected to Dáil at the 2016 general election
Deirdre Clune | Cultural and Educational Panel |  | Fine Gael | Resigned from the Seanad in May 2014 after being elected to the European Parliament[12]
John Gilroy | Cultural and Educational Panel |  | Labour |
Michael Mullins | Cultural and Educational Panel |  | Fine Gael |
Labhrás Ó Murchú | Cultural and Educational Panel |  | Fianna Fáil |
Gerard Craughwell | Cultural and Educational Panel |  | Independent | Elected in a by-election on 10 October 2014, replacing Deirdre Clune[12][13]
Colm Burke | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  | Fine Gael |
Paul Coghlan | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  | Fine Gael |
Jimmy Harte | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  | Labour | Resigned from the Seanad in September 2015[14]
Imelda Henry | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  | Fine Gael |
Marc MacSharry | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  | Fianna Fáil | Elected to Dáil at the 2016 general election
Catherine Noone | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  | Fine Gael |
Averil Power | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  | Fianna Fáil | Resigned from Fianna Fáil in May 2015.[15]
Kathryn Reilly | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  | Sinn Féin |
Mary White | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  | Fianna Fáil |
Máiría Cahill | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  | Labour | Elected in a by-election on 13 November 2015, replacing Jimmy Harte.
Terry Brennan | Labour Panel |  | Fine Gael |
David Cullinane | Labour Panel |  | Sinn Féin | Elected to Dáil at the 2016 general election
Maurice Cummins | Labour Panel |  | Fine Gael | Leader of the Seanad
Fidelma Healy Eames | Labour Panel |  | Fine Gael | Lost the Fine Gael party whip in July 2013
Cáit Keane | Labour Panel |  | Fine Gael |
Terry Leyden | Labour Panel |  | Fianna Fáil |
Marie Moloney | Labour Panel |  | Labour |
Tony Mulcahy | Labour Panel |  | Fine Gael |
Darragh O'Brien | Labour Panel |  | Fianna Fáil | Elected to Dáil at the 2016 general election
Ned O'Sullivan | Labour Panel |  | Fianna Fáil |
John Whelan | Labour Panel |  | Labour |
John Crown | National University of Ireland |  | Independent |
Rónán Mullen | National University of Ireland |  | Independent |
Feargal Quinn | National University of Ireland |  | Independent |
Ivana Bacik | Dublin University |  | Labour | Deputy Leader of the Seanad
Sean Barrett | Dublin University |  | Independent |
David Norris | Dublin University |  | Independent |
Eamonn Coghlan | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Independent | Joined Fine Gael on 7 February 2012[16]
Jim D'Arcy | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Fine Gael |
Aideen Hayden | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Labour |
Lorraine Higgins | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Labour |
Fiach Mac Conghail | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Independent |
Martin McAleese | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Independent | Resigned from the Seanad on 5 February 2013[17]
Mary Moran | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Labour |
Mary Ann O'Brien | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Independent |
Marie-Louise O'Donnell | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Independent |
Jillian van Turnhout | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Independent |
Katherine Zappone | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Independent | Elected to Dáil at the 2016 general election
Hildegarde Naughton | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  | Fine Gael | Appointed on 19 July 2013, replacing Martin McAleese.[18] Elected to Dáil at the 2016 general election

## Changes[edit]

Date  | Panel  |  | Loss  |  | Gain  | Note

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7 February 2012  | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  |  Independent |  |  Fine Gael | Eamonn Coghlan joins Fine Gael[16]
21 December 2012  | Agricultural Panel |  |  Labour |  |  Independent | James Heffernan loses the parliamentary Labour Party whip
5 February 2013  | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  |  Independent |  | Martin McAleese resigns from the Seanad[17]
16 July 2013  | Labour Panel |  |  Fine Gael |  |  Independent | Fidelma Healy Eames loses the Fine Gael party whip for voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013[19]
16 July 2013  | Agricultural Panel |  |  Fine Gael |  |  Independent | Paul Bradford loses the Fine Gael party whip for voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013[19]
19 July 2013  | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  |  |  Fine Gael | Hildegarde Naughton appointed to replace Martin McAleese[18]
27 May 2014  | Cultural and Educational Panel |  |  Fine Gael |  | Deirdre Clune resigns from the Seanad after being elected to the European Parliament.[12]
10 October 2014  | Cultural and Educational Panel |  |  |  Independent | Gerard Craughwell wins by-election to replace Deirdre Clune[13]
21 December 2014  | Administrative Panel |  |  Fianna Fáil |  |  Independent | Mark Daly loses the Fianna Fáil party whip on Water Services Bill[9]
3 February 2015  | Administrative Panel |  |  Independent |  |  Fianna Fáil | Mark Daly re-gains the Fianna Fáil party whip[10]
13 March 2015  | Agricultural Panel |  |  Independent |  |  Renua | Paul Bradford joins Renua Ireland on its foundation[20]
26 March 2015  | Agricultural Panel |  |  Fianna Fáil |  |  Independent | Jim Walsh resigns the Fianna Fáil party whip in opposition to the Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015 and the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015[11]
25 May 2015  | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  |  Fianna Fáil |  |  Independent | Averil Power resigns from Fianna Fáil[15]
3 September 2015  | Agricultural Panel |  |  Independent |  |  Social Democrats | James Heffernan joins the Social Democrats[21]
23 September 2015  | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  |  Labour |  | Jimmy Harte resigns from the Seanad[14]
13 November 2015  | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  |  |  Labour | Máiría Cahill elected in by-election
26 February 2016  | Cultural and Educational Panel |  |  Fianna Fáil |  | Thomas Byrne elected to the 32nd Dáil
26 February 2016  | Labour Panel |  |  Sinn Féin |  | David Cullinane elected to the 32nd Dáil
26 February 2016  | Administrative Panel |  |  Fine Gael |  | Michael D'Arcy elected to the 32nd Dáil
26 February 2016  | Industrial and Commercial Panel |  |  Fianna Fáil |  | Marc MacSharry elected to the 32nd Dáil
26 February 2016  | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  |  Fine Gael |  | Hildegarde Naughton elected to the 32nd Dáil
26 February 2016  | Labour Panel |  |  Fianna Fáil |  | Darragh O'Brien elected to the 32nd Dáil
26 February 2016  | Nominated by the Taoiseach |  |  Independent |  | Katherine Zappone elected to the 32nd Dáil

## References[edit]

1. ^ De Bréadún, Deaglán (8 February 2011). "Ó Cuív announces details of what may be final Seanad election". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
2. ^ "Senators elected to the new Seanad". RTÉ News. 29 April 2011.
3. ^ Elaine Edwards (20 May 2011). "McAleese appointed to Seanad". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
4. ^ "New Seanad holds first meeting". Irish Times. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
5. ^ a b "Paddy Burke elected as Seanad Cathaoirleach". RTÉ News. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
6. ^ "Election of Cathaoirleach – Seanad Éireann (24th Seanad) – Vol. 208 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
7. ^ "Election of Leas-Cathaoirleach – Seanad Éireann (24th Seanad) – Vol. 208 No. 2". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
8. ^ "NUI Panel Full Results" (PDF). NUI Returning Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
9. ^ a b "Senator Mark Daly expelled from Fianna Fáil parliamentary party for defying whip on water Bill". 21 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
10. ^ a b "Kerry Senator readmitted to the FF parliamentary party". Radio Kerry. 3 February 2015. Archived from the original on 16 May 2015.
11. ^ a b "Conservative senator Jim Walsh resigns from Fianna Fáil parliamentary party". 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
12. ^ a b c "Resignation of Member". 4 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
13. ^ a b "Gerard Craughwell wins Seanad by-election". RTÉ News. 10 October 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
14. ^ a b "Labour Senator Jimmy Harte resigns from Upper House". The Irish Times. 23 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
15. ^ a b "Averil Power quits Fianna Fáil party". RTÉ News. 25 May 2015. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
16. ^ a b "Former Olympic athlete Eamonn Coghlan joins Fine Gael". TheJournal.ie. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
17. ^ a b "Martin McAleese to resign from Seanad". RTÉ News. 1 February 2013. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
18. ^ a b "Enda Kenny nominates Hildegarde Naughton to Seanad". RTÉ News. 19 July 2013. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
19. ^ a b "Seanad passes abortion legislation second stage". RTÉ News. 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
20. ^ "Creighton says new party Renua Ireland about open politics". RTÉ News. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
21. ^ "Former Labour Senator James Heffernan joins Social Democrats". Irish Independent. 3 September 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.

## External links[edit]

* "24th Seanad". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
* Houses of the Oireachtas: Debates: 24th Seanad
* "Seanad Éireann General Election April 2011 and Bye-Elections to 2007–11 Seanad" (PDF). Oireachtas.
* "How the Seanad is elected" (PDF). Government of Ireland. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

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