The Daily Star Ireland
As January 2025 draws to a close, the Seanad election is at its tail-end. In fact, since the general election in November 2024, much focus has shifted to the election of members to Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas.
The Seanad comprises 60 seats, filled through a combination of methods. Eleven members are appointed by the Taoiseach, while six are elected by university graduates from designated constituencies. The remaining 43 seats are filled by candidates elected from five vocational panels, representing sectors such as culture, agriculture, labor, industry, and public administration.
Unlike general elections, the Seanad election is indirect. In respect to the vocational panels, the electorate is made up of arriving Dáil members and outgoing Seanad members, while university constituencies allow their graduates to vote for the candidate of their choice.
The election has been under process since late 2024: the nominations of university constituencies ended on 6 December 2024, ballot papers were issued on 30 December, and the polls will close on 29 January 2025. Similarly, the vocational panels were mailed ballot papers on 15 January 2025, with polls closing on 30 January.
This election has attracted significant interest, with 141 candidates vying for the 49 available seats. Notably, several former TDs who lost their seats in the recent general election are seeking a return to the Oireachtas through the Seanad.
Candidates are making a last-ditch appeal as the dates near for polling, impressing their policy and vision for Ireland in front of all. The results of such elections will go a long way in molding the legislative shape of this country.
Basically, the Seanad election in 2025 has reached its final stages, and both the candidates and the electors are anxiously awaiting the results. Moreover, the election will determine not only the composition of the upper house but also the dynamic nature of Ireland’s political environment.
