Clerks

The Clerk is an officer of the House appointed by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission on the recommendation of the Cathaoirleach.

Clerk of the Seanad

Newly elected or nominated Members of the Seanad sign the Roll of Members in the presence of the Clerk of the Seanad before taking their seats. At the first meeting of the new Seanad after a general election, the Clerk announces the names of the Members who have been nominated and elected.

The Clerk is, ex officio, the returning officer for the election of the 43 panel Members to the Seanad and, for this purpose, carries out the annual review of the register of nominating bodies. The returning officers for the university constituencies certify to the Clerk the names of the six Senators who have been elected to represent the National University of Ireland and University of Dublin, while the names of the Taoiseach’s 11 nominees are communicated to the Clerk by the Department of the Taoiseach.

The Clerk is also, ex officio, a member of the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO, the Constituency Commission and the Referendum Commission.

Deputy Clerk of the Seanad

The Deputy Clerk of the Seanad is an officer of the House appointed by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission on the recommendation of the Cathaoirleach.

All of the duties of the Clerk are exercised in his or her absence by the Deputy Clerk.