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Fine Gael (18) * Labour Party (11) Opposition * Fianna Fáil (12) * Sinn Féin (3) * Renua Ireland (1) * Social Democrats (1) * Independent (14) |last_election1 = 26 April 2011 |meeting_place = Seanad chamber Leinster House, Dublin |website = }} Seanad Éireann (; ''Senate of Ireland'') is the upper house of the Oireachtas (the Irish legislature), which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann (the lower house). It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members senators (''seanadóirí'' in Irish, singular: ''seanadóir''). Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by various methods. Its powers are much weaker than those of the Dáil and it can only delay laws with which it disagrees, rather than veto them outright. It has been located, since its establishment, in Leinster House. The programme of the government formed in March 2011 sought to abolish the Seanad as part of a broader programme of constitutional reform. ==Composition== Seanad Éireann consists of sixty senators: * Eleven appointed by the Taoiseach (prime minister). * Six elected by the graduates of certain Irish universities: * * Three by graduates of the University of Dublin. * * Three by graduates of the National University of Ireland. * 43 elected from five special panels of nominees (known as Vocational Panels) by an electorate consisting of TDs (member of Dáil Éireann), senators and local councillors. Nomination is restrictive for the panel seats with only Oireachtas members and designated 'nominating bodies' entitled to nominate. Each of the five panels consists, in theory, of individuals possessing special knowledge of, or experience in, one of five specific fields. In practice the nominees are party members, often, though not always, failed or aspiring Dáil candidates: * * Administrative Panel: Public administration and social services (including the voluntary sector). * * Agricultural Panel: Agriculture and the fisheries. * * Cultural and Educational Panel: Education, the arts, the Irish language and Irish culture and literature. * * Industrial and Commercial Panel: Industry and commerce (including engineering and architecture). * * Labour Panel: Labour (organised or otherwise). Under the Constitution of Ireland the general election for the Seanad must occur not later than 90 days after the dissolution of Dáil Éireann. The election occurs under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (however in the panel constituencies each vote counts as 1000 meaning fractions of votes can be transferred). Membership is open to all Irish citizens over 21, but a senator cannot also be a member of Dáil Éireann. However, as stated above, nomination to vocational panel seats is restricted; while nomination in the University constituencies requires signatures of 10 graduates. In the case of a vacancy in the Vocational Panels, by death, resignation or election to the European Parliament, a Seanad by-election takes place. Seanad by-elections involve Oireachtas members only, ensuring the government of the day decides the successful candidate. University vacancies, however, are filled under different rules, wherein the university in question holds a specific by-election. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Seanad Éireann」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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