Motions are proposals that can be made in both the Dáil and Seanad. They are framed in such a way that, if agreed to, they claim to express the will or judgment of the House.
Members or their staff can complete these steps but a final motion request should be sent from a Member's Oireachtas email to the Journal Office.
Guidance on motions
Submit your motion in writing to the Journal Office.
Send the motion no later than 11 a.m. on the fourth preceding day on which the motion is to be taken.
When writing your motion, you can refer to motions on previous Order Papers, which are available on the Dáil Business website.
Typical Private Members’ motions may take the following form:
These motions are usually taken during Private Members’ time, when topics of national and international importance have been discussed, as well as matters of concern to regions, groups or industries.
Admissibility of motions
The Ceann Comhairle rules on the admissibility of Private Members’ motions for compliance with the conditions set out in Standing Orders.
A Private Member's motion not moved within 12 months from the date on which it was first placed on the Order Paper shall be deemed to have lapsed, notwithstanding the right of Members to table such motion again, as per Standing Order 51.
If the motion is deemed admissible, you will be notified by the Journal Office. It will then be circulated as a notice of motion for the information of Members and will appear on the next printed Dáil Order Paper.
Amendments to motions
If submitting an amendment to a motion, make sure that your amendment is relevant to the motion to which it is proposed, and is directed to omitting, adding or substituting words
Submit your amendment in writing to the Journal Office
Send the amendment no later than 11 a.m. on the second preceding day
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Last Updated: Thu, 14 Nov 2024