Civil Engagement group
Civil Engagement group | |
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| Founded | 25 May 2016 |
| Seanad Éireann |
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The Civil Engagement group is a technical group in Seanad Éireann (the upper house of the Oireachtas or parliament of Ireland) comprising senators with a background in civic engagement organisations.[1] The group was established in May 2016 after the election of the 25th Seanad, initially by independent senators Alice Mary Higgins, Frances Black, Lynn Ruane and John Dolan, along with Grace O'Sullivan of the Green Party.[1] Colette Kelleher joined the group after being nominated to the Seanad by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. All six are first-time senators. Grace O'Sullivan said the group members "share an activist background and will be pursuing progressive policy".[2] The Civil Engagement group is separate from the "Independent group",[3] a technical group long established within the Seanad.[4]
Seanad technical groups do not mirror those in the Dáil; in the 32nd Dáil independents are split between government supporters and two technical groups while the Green Party is in a third technical group with the Social Democrats.[5]
References
- 1 2 "Five Independent senators have formed a technical group in the Seanad". breakingnews.ie. Cork: Landmark Digital. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- ↑ "Waterford Senator Grace O'Sullivan forms Seanad technical group". WLR FM. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- ↑ "Address by Mr. Manus Cooney: Motion". Seanad debates. 4 Oct 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
Schedule Fine Gael Group: 2 questions Fianna Fáil Group: 2 questions Independent Group: 2 questions Sinn Féin Group: 2 questions Civil Engagement Group: 2 questions Labour Group: 2 questions.
- ↑ "Business of Seanad.". Seanad Éireann Debates. 12 July 1973. Vol. 75 No. 6 p.4. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
There is a very flexible approach being adopted by the Committee as representative of all the groups in the Seanad. The Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party, the Fianna Fáil Party and the independent group have their representatives on the Committee.
- ↑ "Social Democrats and Green Party form Dáil technical group". UTV Ireland. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.