Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024

Public bill · Government · Presented

It would expand the Seanad university vote so all Irish citizens with a degree from a designated higher education institution in Ireland could take part, replacing the current separate NUI and Trinity constituencies with one six-seat Higher Education constituency. It also sets up a new voter register and nomination rules, introduces replacement candidate lists to fill vacancies without immediate bye-elections, and adds spending rules and partial expense refunds for candidates. The change matters because it broadens who can vote for these Seanad seats and updates a system that has been limited to a small group of graduates.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to regulate, for the purpose of Article 18.4.2° of the Constitution of Ireland, elections (including bye-elections as well as general elections) of those elected members of Seanad Éireann who are required by that Constitution to be elected by universities or other institutions of higher education in the State, to define the franchise on which such members are to be elected, to amend the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937, to provide for vacancies in Seanad Éireann in the Higher Education constituency to be filled from replacement candidates lists and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with such elections.

Last updated 4 November 2024