Irish Parliament 
The Oireachtas (Irish Parliament)
The Irish Parliament (Legislature) consists of two Houses, Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives of Ireland) and Seanad Éireann (Senate).
Dáil Éireann is the principal chamber of the Oireachtas. Dáil Éireann has 166 members. Members are directly elected at least once in every five years by the people of the Republic of Ireland. A member of the Dáil is known as a Teachta Dála (often abbreviated TD), or deputy.
Seanad Éireann is the upper House of the Oireachtas and is composed of 60 Members (Senators) Seanad Éireann can initiate and revise legislation but under the Constitution its legislative role is restricted in that it cannot initiate Money Bill i.e. financial legislation, and can only make recommendations but not amendments to such Bills.
Seanad Éireann also debates important issues. As the Government is constitutionally responsible to Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann can debate these issues with greater freedom because the fate of the Government will not be at stake. Senators also make themselves available to assist members of the public who may require advice or guidance on matters relating to State administration. The Seanad sits on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The role of TDs (Members of Parliament)
TDs represent the entire electorate within their constituencies and provide an essential democratic link between constituents, Government and Parliament. A TD can be a member of a Government Party, the Opposition or sit as an Independent. TD's meet in plenary session on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
TDs may draft amendments to and examine proposals for new legislation. TDs contribute to debates about new legislation and other important matters, they vote on issues in the House, they attend Question Time, they participate in Committee work and they make written or oral representations to ministers or government departments on behalf of their constituencies.
As well as work at the Dáil and on Committees, TDs work within their own constituencies. They hold regular advice clinics throughout their constituencies so that voters can meet them personally. Often they provide assistance to constituents with a family/personal problem relating to a government department.
There is a Committee system in Dáil Éireann. Specialist Committees advise the Dáil on a broad range of legislative, social, economic and financial business. Committees also examine Government expenditure. Joint Committees are committees from both Dáil Éireann and the Seanad sitting and voting together. A TD will often be a member of more than one Committee.
The Dáil currently has three standing committees and thirteen select committees (including the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs (Gnóthaí Eachtracha) which has Sub-Committees on Human Rights and Overseas Development).
Committees cover all areas of Parliamentary Business and can receive submissions and hear evidence from interested parties or groups, discuss and draft proposals for legislative change, print and publish minutes of evidence and related documents, require attendance of Ministers to discuss current policies and proposals for legislation.
Raising issues in the Dáil Éireann
TDs may ask members of the Irish Government, including the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), questions during Question Time in the Dáil. The questions relate to public affairs connected with a particular Minister's Department (the Department for Foreign Affairs, in the case of questions relating to Colombia) or any administration issue that a Minister is officially responsible for.
TDs are limited to asking each Minister 2 oral questions. Every day, 5 oral questions are given priority. The priority questions are shared between the parties according to party strength. As well as oral questions in Question Time, TDs can submit written questions seeking a written answer. There is no limit to the amount of written questions that a TD can ask the Government.
Senators cannot ask questions during question time in the Dáil.
Contacting your TD
A list of email and contact address of TDs can be found on the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) website www.oireachtas.ie
| Information taken from www.oireachtas.ie and http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/government-in-ireland |