List of addresses to the Oireachtas

Several distinguished leaders have addressed one of the houses of the Oireachtas (Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann) or a joint session of both houses. The President of Ireland is entitled to make such an address under Article 13.7.1° of the Constitution.[1] T. M. Healy, the first Governor-General of the Irish Free State, made addresses in 1922 and 1923 modelled on the British speech from the throne. Several foreign leaders have been honoured with an invitation to address the Oireachtas, typically during a state visit.

Since 22 May 2001, the Seanad standing orders allow its Committee on Procedure and Privilege (CPP) to approve the attendance of an Irish Member of the European Parliament in the house.[2] (Currently S.O.57;[3] originally S.O.52A,[2] and later S.O.56.[4]) In July 2011, S.O.57 was extended to "representatives and persons in public and civic life".[5] Separately, the CPP can recommend inviting "Distinguished Persons" to address the house; since the late 1990s this has been extended, typically to EU officials.[6]

Date (link to text) Assembly Speaker Role Country etc. Notes
01922-12-12December 12, 1922 12 December 1922 Dáil (3rd) with Seanad (1st) members present Healy , T. M.T. M. Healy Governor-General Irish Free State Governor-General's Address six days after the creation of the Irish Free State.
01923-10-03October 3, 1923 3 October 1923 Dáil (4th) with Seanad (1st) members present Healy , T. M.T. M. Healy Governor-General Irish Free State Governor-General's Address after the 1923 general election
01963-06-28June 28, 1963 28 June 1963 Joint sitting of 17th Dáil and 10th Seanad Kennedy , John F.John F. Kennedy President United States Kennedy presented the banner of the Irish Brigade under Thomas Francis Meagher flown at the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862. His speech included the famous line, 'George Bernard Shaw, speaking as an Irishman, summed up an approach to life: "Other peoples," he said, "see things and say: `Why?' ... But I dream things that never were—and I say: `Why not?".
01969-01-21January 21, 1969 21 January 1969 Simultaneous sitting of 18th Dáil and 11th Seanad Devalera, EamonÉamon de Valera President Ireland Address under Article 13.7, on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the first meeting of the First Dáil. The speech was in Irish.
01984-06-04June 4, 1984 4 June 1984 Joint sitting of 24th Dáil and 17th Seanad Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan President United States
01987-10-21October 21, 1987 21 October 1987 Dáil (25th) Hawke , BobBob Hawke Prime Minister Australia
01988-02-26February 26, 1988 26 February 1988 Joint sitting of 25th Dáil and 18th Seanad Mitterrand, FrancoisFrançois Mitterrand President France The speech was in French.
01990-07-02July 2, 1990 2 July 1990 Dáil (26th) Mandela , NelsonNelson Mandela Deputy Leader of the African National Congress South Africa Several months after his release from prison, and early in the negotiated end to apartheid.
01992-07-08July 8, 1992 8 July 1992 Joint sitting of 26th Dáil and 19th Seanad Robinson, MaryMary Robinson President Ireland Address under Article 13.7, on the topic "the Irish Identity in Europe".[7]
01993-09-20September 20, 1993 20 September 1993 Dáil (27th) Keating, PaulPaul Keating Prime Minister Australia
01995-02-02February 2, 1995 2 February 1995 Joint sitting of 27th Dáil and 20th Seanad Robinson , MaryMary Robinson President Ireland Address under Article 13.7 on the topic "Cherishing the Irish Diaspora"[8]
01995-12-01December 1, 1995 1 December 1995 Joint sitting of 27th Dáil and 20th Seanad Clinton, BillBill Clinton President United States Address made at an early stage in the Northern Ireland peace process
01996-10-02October 2, 1996 2 October 1996 Dáil (27th) Kohl , HelmutHelmut Kohl Chancellor Germany The speech was in German.
01996-03-28March 28, 1996 28 March 1996 Seanad (20th) Dooge, JamesJames Dooge Member of the Institute of European Affairs Ireland Former professor, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cathaoirleach.
01996-10-29October 29, 1996 29 October 1996 Seanad (20th) Kinnock, NeilNeil Kinnock Commissioner for Transport European Commission (Santer)
01998-11-19November 19, 1998 19 November 1998 Seanad (21st) Santer, JacquesJacques Santer President European Commission (Santer)
01998-11-26November 26, 1998 26 November 1998 Joint sitting of 28th Dáil and 21st Seanad Blair, TonyTony Blair Prime Minister United Kingdom Address made after the Belfast Agreement.
01999-12-16December 16, 1999 16 December 1999 Joint sitting of 28th Dáil and 21st Seanad Macaleese, MaryMary McAleese President Ireland Address under Article 13.7 to mark the millennium.[9]
02001-10-29October 29, 2001 14 November 2001 Seanad (21st) Byrne, DavidDavid Byrne Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy European Commission (Prodi)
02002-10-10October 10, 2002 10 October 2002 Seanad (22nd) Cox, PatPat Cox President European Parliament
02003-11-13November 13, 2003 13 November 2003 Seanad (22nd) Banotti, MaryMary Banotti MEP for Dublin Ireland Invited under S.O.52A[10]
02003-11-26November 26, 2003 26 November 2003 Seanad (22nd) Maccartin, JoeJoe McCartin MEP for Connacht–Ulster Ireland Invited under S.O.52A[11]
02003-11-27November 27, 2003 27 November 2003 Seanad (22nd) Cox, PatPat Cox President European Parliament Cox was invited as a Distinguished Person, rather than as an MEP under S.O.52A.[11]
02003-11-27November 27, 2003 27 November 2003 Seanad (22nd) Scallon, Dana RosemaryDana Rosemary Scallon MEP for Connacht–Ulster Ireland Invited under S.O.52A[12]
02003-11-27November 27, 2003 27 November 2003 Seanad (22nd) Ahern, NualaNuala Ahern MEP for Leinster Ireland Invited under S.O.52A[12]
02003-11-27November 27, 2003 27 November 2003 Seanad (22nd) O'Neachtain, SeanSeán Ó Neachtain MEP for Connacht–Ulster Ireland Invited under S.O.52A[13]
02003-12-11December 11, 2003 11 December 2003 Seanad (22nd) Doyle, AvrilAvril Doyle MEP for Leinster Ireland Invited under S.O.52A[13]
02003-12-11December 11, 2003 11 December 2003 Seanad (22nd) Crowley, BrianBrian Crowley MEP for Munster Ireland Invited under S.O.52A[13]
02004-03-03March 3, 2004 3 March 2004 Seanad (22nd) Hume, JohnJohn Hume Member for Northern Ireland European Parliament
02006-05-23May 23, 2006 23 May 2006 Dáil (29th) Howard , JohnJohn Howard Prime Minister Australia
02006-11-08November 8, 2006 8 November 2006 Seanad (22nd) Bruton, JohnJohn Bruton Ambassador to the United States European Union
02008-04-08April 8, 2008 8 April 2008 Seanad (23rd) Pottering, Hans-GertHans-Gert Pöttering President European Parliament
02011-07-12July 12, 2011 12 July 2011 Seanad (24th) Buzek, JerzyJerzy Buzek President European Parliament
02011-09-28September 28, 2011 28 September 2011 Seanad (24th) Manning, MauriceMaurice Manning President of the Irish Human Rights Commission Ireland Invited under S.O.57(2).[14] Chair of the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions; Chancellor of the National University of Ireland; Former Leader of the Seanad

On 28 April 1949, Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, was received on the floor of the Dáil; he did not make a speech.[15]

References

  1. ^ Constitution of Ireland Article 13.7.1°
  2. ^ a b Seanad Éireann (May 2005). "Amendments to or Modifications in effect of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business" (in Irish and English) (MS Word). Oireachtas. p. 4. http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/proceduraldocuments/Amendments_Seanad_Standing_Orders_2005.doc. Retrieved 24 September 2011. 
  3. ^ Seanad Éireann (2011). "Members of the European Parliament: right of audience." (in Irish and English) (PDF). Standing Orders relative to Public Business. Oireachtas. p. 55. http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/proceduraldocuments/SeanadStandingOrders2011.pdf#page=76. Retrieved 24 September 2011. 
  4. ^ Seanad Éireann (2007). "Members of the European Parliament: right of audience." (in Irish and English) (PDF). Standing Orders relative to Public Business. Dublin: Oireachtas. p. 55. http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/proceduraldocuments/SeanadSO2007.pdf#page=75. Retrieved 24 September 2011. 
  5. ^ Seanad debates Vol.209 No.10 p.5
  6. ^ Committee of Procedure and Privilege, 22nd Seanad (2004). "5.8 (82) Senator Mary Henry MD" (MS Word). Public representatives. Submissions to the Subcommittee on Seanad Reform. 5. Oireachtas. p. 186. http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/committees29thdail/subcomonseanadreform/submissionschapter5.doc. Retrieved 24 September 2011. "Our entitlement to ask distinguished speakers to address us is important too. This is particularly so with EU commissioners, members of other governments and so forth. We have used this facility with good effect, most recently with our members of the present European Convention. It may be necessary in the run up to the referendum on the European Convention to use this facility again." 
  7. ^ 29th June 1992 - Address to the Houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament) Office of the President
  8. ^ 24th January 1995 - Address to the Houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament) Office of the President
  9. ^ "28th October 1999 - Address to the Houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament)". Office of the President. http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=18&meeting=22&lang=eng. Retrieved 10 January 2011. 
  10. ^ Seanad debates Vol.174 No.13 p.5
  11. ^ a b Seanad debates Vol.174 No.18 p.5
  12. ^ a b Seanad debates Vol.174 No.19 p.5
  13. ^ a b c Seanad debates Vol.174 No.24 p.6
  14. ^ Seanad debates Vol.201 No.5 p.4
  15. ^ "Reception of Prime Minister of India". Oireachtas. 28 April 1949. http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/addresses/28April1949.htm. Retrieved 10 January 2011.