Parliamentary decorum

Precedence of Chair

When the Chair is addressing the House or rises to his or her feet, all Senators present in the Chamber should be seat.

Calling on speakers

A Senator desiring to speak should rise in his or her place but should not enter upon a speech until called upon by the Chairman. The speaker should address the Chair. 

Interruptions

During debate, Senators should refrain from interrupting speakers. A Senator is entitled to raise a point of order at any time, except when the question is being put by the Chair, but any other intervention during the speech of another Senator is permissible only with the consent of the Senator. Such interventions, if made, should be brief.

Prohibition on the use of mobile phones in the Chamber

The use of mobile phones to make or receive calls, or for photography, is prohibited in the Chamber. Mobile phones should be switched to silent when entering the Chamber and should not be used in a manner which interferes with the proceedings of the House.

Emblems

To maintain the decorum of Parliament, only emblems of a non-party political nature may be worn in the precincts of Leinster House, and the wearing of garments or the overt display of any item containing a slogan or a campaigning message, graphic or image of any kind, or the wearing or display of anything of a commercial or promotional nature, is prohibited.

Moving about in the Chamber

Senators entering or leaving the Seanad Chamber in the course of a sitting bow to the Chair. When entering or leaving the Chamber or proceeding to another part of it in the course of a sitting, Members should go by the nearest passageway and should avoid crossing the Chamber.

A Senator must not pass between the Senator addressing the House and the Chair.

Conversations in the lobbies, gangways or the ante-room

Noisy conversation in the lobbies, gangways or the ante-room, whereby the proceedings of the House might be interfered with, should be avoided. Necessary exchanges of view within the Chamber should not be conducted in tones so loud as to interfere with Senator addressing House.

Attendance of Minister in the Seanad Chamber

Senators should not engage Ministers in conversation while debate is in progress. 

Visitors

Senators should refrain from conversing with visitors in the Public Gallery from the floor of the Chamber. No document, including a copy of a Minister's speech, should be exchanged between a Senator and a visitor in Gallery.

Consumption of food and beverages

The consumption of food and beverages in the Chamber is prohibited. Water glasses provided in the Chamber will be replenished by the ushers.