Sanctions available to the Chair

With the exception of “naming” a Member, leading to his or her suspension from the House, these sanctions are also available to the Leas-Chathaoirleach or to a temporary Chairperson who is deputising for the Cathaoirleach. However, if the Leas-Chathaoirleach or a temporary Chairperson considers that a Member's conduct warrants suspension, the Cathaoirleach will be requested to come into the House.

Types of sanction

A Member who persists in irrelevance or repetition in debate or, in the opinion of the Chair, is speaking for the purpose of obstructing business, may be directed to finish speaking and resume his or her seat.

If a Member makes a defamatory reference or uses unparliamentary language, he or she may be instructed to withdraw the remarks without qualification.

A Member whose conduct is “grossly disorderly” may be instructed to withdraw from the House for the remainder of the day’s sitting. He or she will not be readmitted to the Chamber for any purpose, including voting, for the rest of the day. This does not affect the Member's right to attend committee meetings.

Naming a Member

If the Cathaoirleach considers that a Member's conduct is such that the above sanctions are not adequate to deal with it, he or she may “name” the Member concerned for misconduct.

Naming involves putting the question, “That Senator X be suspended from the service of the Seanad” to the House for decision by it. A Senator who has been suspended may not re-enter the Chamber for any purpose until the suspension period has expired and is also prohibited from attending committee meetings. The suspension periods are as follows:

Disorder

If there is great disorder in the Chamber, the Cathaoirleach may adjourn the Seanad to the next sitting day without putting the question to the House or may suspend the sitting for a time to be named by him or her.