Ringing of division bells

Time limits before doors to Dáil chamber are locked

If a division is not immediately following a previous division, Members will have ten minutes to access the Dáil chamber before the doors to the chamber are locked. The division bells will ring for not less than six minutes and there are a further four minutes before the doors are locked.

Outside of the voting block, if another division follows immediately, in the case of an electronic vote, three minutes notice is given; the bells ring for two minutes and there is a further minute before the doors are locked. In the case of a manual vote taken immediately following another division, six minutes notice is given; the bells ring for three minutes and there are a further three minutes before the doors are locked. The shorter times apply because Members will be in their designated seats at that point.

Voting block

Under Standing Orders, certain divisions are postponed to a voting block on a designated day. During the voting block, the same time limits apply, except that for any division taken immediately following another division, the bells are rung for one minute only, and the doors are locked after a further minute.

Tellers

For all divisions, four tellers must be appointed – two on the Tá side and two on the Níl side. If one side should be unable to or refuse to appoint tellers, the Chair will declare the result in favour of the other side.

Minimum number

After the doors of the Chamber have been locked, the Chair rises. A minimum of ten Members is needed for a division to proceed. If the Chair considers that the number calling for the division may be fewer than ten, he or she will ask them to rise at this point.

If there are ten Members or more, the Chair proceeds with the division. If there are fewer than ten, the names of the Members who have risen are entered in the Journal of Proceedings, but no division takes place.