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Ireland - Government

Ireland is a sovereign, independent, democratic state with a parliamentary system of government. The president, who serves as head of state in a ceremonial role, is elected for a 7-year term and can be re-elected only once. Michael Higgins succeeded Mary McAleese as President on November 11, 2011. In carrying out certain constitutional powers and functions, the president is aided by the Council of State, an advisory body. On the taoiseach's (prime minister's) advice, the president also dissolves the Oireachtas (parliament).

The prime minister (Taoiseach, TEE-SHUCK) is elected by the Dail (lower house of parliament) as the leader of the political party, or coalition of parties, that wins the most seats in the national elections, which are held approximately every 5 years (unless called earlier). Executive power is vested in a cabinet whose ministers are nominated by the taoiseach and approved by the Dail.

The bicameral Oireachtas (parliament) consists of the Seanad Eireann (Senate) and the Dail Eireann (House of Representatives). The Seanad is composed of 60 members -- 11 nominated by the prime minister, six elected by the national universities, and 43 elected from panels of candidates established on a vocational basis. The Seanad has the power to delay legislative proposals and is allowed 90 days to consider and amend bills sent to it by the Dail, which wields greater power in parliament. The Dail has 166 members popularly elected to terms of 5 years under a complex system of proportional representation. A member of the Dail is known as a Teachta Dala, or TD.

The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and other members of the Government are appointed by the President, with the approval of or on the nomination of Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives in Parliament). The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and the Minister for Finance must be members of Dáil Éireann. The other members of the Government must be members of either Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann (Senate) but no more than two may be members of Seanad Éireann. A Taoiseach must resign from office if s/he loses the support of a majority of the Dáil unless s/he secures a majority in a general election following a dissolution of the Dáil. If the Taoiseach resigns, all other Ministers are deemed to have resigned. They and the Taoiseach continue to carry on their duties until their successors are appointed. Similar arrangements apply whenever the Dáil is dissolved.

In addition to its specific constitutional and legal functions, the Government is generally responsible for seeing that law and order are maintained; that the needs of the public are addressed as far as is practicable; and that any dangers threatening the interests of the public are averted. The Government, therefore, takes measures recommended by Ministers which it considers necessary for the public interest. The Government is responsible only to the Dáil, although members of the Government have a right to be heard in both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Government is responsible for managing the public finances, for example it prepares the Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure each year for approval by the Dáil. Only the Government may introduce Money Bills into the Dáil. Ministers of State are not members of the Government.

The Government (Cabinet) usually meets once a week and its proceedings are confidential. Although the term Cabinet has no formal basis in the Constitution, it is frequently used to describe formal meetings of the Government, to distinguish them from more general activities of government. The business conducted at Government (Cabinet) meetings include the exercise of formal powers, for example advising the President to exercise specific powers and making Orders to give effect to statutory provisions. Major policy issues are considered and approved by Government on the proposal of individual Ministers. Most of the time at Government (Cabinet) meetings is devoted to such matters. Over time, detailed guidelines have been developed to assist Ministers in bringing issues to Cabinet for consideration and to ensure that Cabinet business is dispatched efficiently and effectively.

Judges are appointed by the president on nomination by the government and can be removed from office only for misbehavior or incapacity and then only by resolution of both houses of parliament. The ultimate court of appeal is the Supreme Court, consisting of the chief justice and five other justices. The Supreme Court also can decide upon the constitutionality of legislative acts if the president asks for an opinion.

Local government is by elected county councils and, in the cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford, by county borough corporations. County councils/corporations in turn select city mayors. In practice, however, most authority remains with the central government.

The June 2004 local and European Parliament elections featured a referendum on citizenship. Until that time, Ireland had granted citizenship on the basis of birth on Irish soil. Concerns about security and social welfare abuse prompted the government to seek to bring citizenship laws in line with the more restrictive policies prevalent in the rest of Europe, and the 2004 referendum measure passed by a wide majority. Now, persons with non-Irish parents can acquire Irish citizenship at birth on Irish soil only if at least one parent has been resident in Ireland for 3 years preceding the birth.