From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Records of members of the Oireachtas
none
Summary
none
This is a list of records relating to the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland, which consists of the President of Ireland, and two Houses, Dáil Éireann, a house of representatives whose members are known as Teachtaí Dála or TDs, and Seanad Éireann, a senate whose members are known as senators.
The First Dáil consisted of the Sinn Féin MPs who were elected in the United Kingdom general election of 14 December 1918. They refused to attend the British House of Commons and instead assembled for the first time on 21 January 1919 in the Mansion House in Dublin as the revolutionary unicameral Dáil Éireann.
1,292 TDs have served in the Dáil between 1919 and 2018. The title Father of the Dáil is usually and unofficially conferred on the longest-serving member.
Longest-serving former TDs
This is a list of former TDs who have served at least 30 years in the Dáil. Unless otherwise specified, start and end dates given are those of the relevant general election. Unless stated, the TD listed did not stand in the end-date election.
| Name | Party | Elected | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| b – by-election | Vacated seat | Dáil Service | Notes | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Independent Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Labour Party (Ireland)}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Labour Party (Ireland)}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Labour Party (Ireland)}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Labour Party (Ireland)}}" | Labour Party (Ireland)}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Labour Party (Ireland)}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Progressive Democrats}}" | Labour Party (Ireland)}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Labour Party (Ireland)}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Progressive Democrats}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Fianna Fáil}}" | Social Democrats (Ireland)}}" | Fine Gael}}" | Fine Gael}}" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paddy Smith | 1923 | 1977 | 53y 11m | Cabinet minister | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frank Aiken | 1923 | 1973 | 49y 6m | Longest-serving cabinet minister (1932–1948, 1951–1954, 1957–1969) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neil Blaney | 1948 b | Died on 8 November 1995 | 46y 11m | Cabinet minister | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas McEllistrim | 1923 | 1969 | 45y 10m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Séamus Pattison | Labour | 1961 | 2007 | 45y 8m | Ceann Comhairle (1997–2002) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seán MacEntee | 1918 | 1969 | 45y 6m | Did not hold office between the 1922 and June 1927 elections | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Ryan | 1918 | 1965 | 45y 2m | Long-serving cabinet minister. Did not hold office between the 1922 and 1923 elections (1y 2m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seán Lemass | 1924 b | 1969 | 44y 7m | Taoiseach (1959–1966) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Everett | 1923 | Died on 18 December 1967 | 44y 4m | Cabinet minister; leader of the breakaway National Labour (1944–1950) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enda Kenny | Fine Gael | 1975 b | 2020 | 44y 2m | Taoiseach (2011–2017) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oliver J. Flanagan | Fine Gael | 1943 | 1987 | 43y 8m | Cabinet minister | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bernard Durkan | Fine Gael | 1981 | 2024 | 43y 5m | TD, Senator from February 1982 to November 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Bruton | Fine Gael | 1981 | 2024 | 43y 1m | Cabinet minister; senator from October 1981 to February 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Martin Corry | Fianna Fáil | June 1927 | 1969 | 41y 10m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrick McGilligan | 1923 b | 1965 | 41y 5m | Attorney General (1954–1957) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Mulcahy | 1918 | 1961 | 41y | Did not hold office between the 1937 and 1938 elections, nor between those of 1943 and 1944 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Éamon de Valera | 1918 | Elected President in 1959 | 40y 6m | Taoiseach and President of Ireland; first elected to Westminster at the June 1917 by-election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cormac Breslin | Fianna Fáil | 1937 | 1977 | 40y | Ceann Comhairle (1967–1973) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrick Hogan | Labour | 1923 | Died on 24 January 1969 | 39y 8m | Did not hold office between the 1938 and 1943 elections, nor between those of 1944 and 1948 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Noonan | Fine Gael | 1981 | 2020 | 38y 7m | Cabinet minister. Leader of Fine Gael (2001–2002) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gerald Boland | 1923 | 1961 | 38y 2m | Long-serving cabinet minister | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liam Cosgrave | Fine Gael | 1943 | 1981 | 38y | Taoiseach (1973–1977) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dan Spring | 1943 | 1981 | 38y | Member of the breakaway National Labour (1944–1950) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ruairi Quinn | Labour | 1977 | 2016 | 38y | Senator from 1981 to February 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Kennedy | Fianna Fáil | June 1927 | 1965 | 37y 10m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brendan Howlin | Labour | 1987 | 2024 | 37y 8m | Cabinet minister; leader of Labour (2016–2020); senator from 1983 to 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seán Brady | Fianna Fáil | September 1927 | 1965 | 37y 7m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bob Briscoe | Fianna Fáil | September 1927 | 1965 | 37y 7m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Dillon | 1932 | 1969 | 37y 4m | Leader of Fine Gael (1959–1965) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Andrews | Fianna Fáil | 1965 | 2002 | 37y 1m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ben Briscoe | Fianna Fáil | 1965 | 2002 | 37y 1m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bobby Molloy | 1965 | 2002 | 37y 1m | Joined Progressive Democrats in 1986; previously Fianna Fáil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brendan Corish | Labour | 1945 b | February 1982 | 36y 2m | Tánaiste (1973–1977) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dan Breen | 1923 | 1965 | 35y 11m | Did not hold office between the June 1927 and 1932 elections | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paddy Harte | Fine Gael | 1961 | 1997 | 35y 8m | Father of the Dáil (1997–2007) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charles Haughey | Fianna Fáil | 1957 | 1992 | 35y 8m | Taoiseach (1979–1981, 1982, 1987–1992) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seán Treacy | 1961 | 1997 | 35y 8m | Ceann Comhairle (1987–1997) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John A. Costello | Fine Gael | 1933 | 1969 | 35y 7m | Did not hold office between the 1943 and 1944 elections. Taoiseach (1948–1951, 1954–1957) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vivion de Valera | Fianna Fáil | 1945 b | 1981 | 35y 7m | Son of Éamon de Valera | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Bruton | Fine Gael | 1969 | Resigned on 31 October 2004 | 35y 4m | Taoiseach (1994–1997). Resigned as TD to become EU Ambassador to the United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Erskine H. Childers | Fianna Fáil | 1938 | Elected President in 1973 | 35y | Tánaiste (1969–1973) and President of Ireland (1973–1974) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frank Fahy | 1918 | Died on 14 July 1953 | 34y 10m | Ceann Comhairle (1932–1951) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mícheál Ó Móráin | Fianna Fáil | 1938 | 1973 | 34y 8m | Cabinet minister | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maurice E. Dockrell | Fine Gael | 1943 | 1977 | 34y 1m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Desmond O'Malley | 1968 b | 2002 | 34y | Founder of the Progressive Democrats and cabinet minister | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dinny McGinley | Fine Gael | February 1982 | 2016 | 34y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bertie Ahern | Fianna Fáil | 1977 | 2011 | 33y 8m | Taoiseach (1997–2008) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rory O'Hanlon | Fianna Fáil | 1977 | 2011 | 33y 8m | Ceann Comhairle (2002–2007) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jim O'Keeffe | Fine Gael | 1977 | 2011 | 33y 8m | Cabinet minister | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Woods | Fianna Fáil | 1977 | 2011 | 33y 8m | Cabinet minister | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daniel Morrissey | 1923 | 1957 | 33y 7m | Cabinet minister | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jack Lynch | Fianna Fáil | 1948 | 1981 | 33y 4m | Taoiseach (1966–1973, 1977–1979) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seán Barrett | Fine Gael | 1981 | 2020 | 33y 4m | Did not hold office between the 2002 and 2007 elections. Ceann Comhairle (2011–2016) and cabinet minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Browne | Fianna Fáil | November 1982 | 2016 | 33y 3m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Séamus Kirk | Fianna Fáil | November 1982 | 2016 | 33y 3m | Ceann Comhairle (2009–2011) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gerald Bartley | Fianna Fáil | 1932 | 1965 | 33y 2m | Cabinet minister | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seán Mac Eoin | 1932 | 1965 | 33y 2m | Cabinet minister | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael P. Kitt | Fianna Fáil | 1975 b | 2016 | 32y 11m | Senator from 1977 to 1981, and from 2002 to 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charles Flanagan | Fine Gael | 1987 | 2024 | 32y 8m | Cabinet minister; did not hold office between the 2002 and 2007 elections | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noel Davern | Fianna Fáil | 1969 | 2007 | 32y 4m | Did not hold office between the 1981 and 1987 elections | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Éamon Ó Cuív | Fianna Fáil | 1992 | 2024 | 31y 11m | Cabinet minister; senator from 1989 to 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Róisín Shortall | 1992 | 2024 | 31y 11m | Co-leader of the Social Democrats (2015–2023); longest-serving female TD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Ring | Fine Gael | 1994 b | 2024 | 30y 5m | Cabinet minister | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Creed | Fine Gael | 1989 | 2024 | 30y 4m | Cabinet minister; did not hold office between the 2002 and 2007 elections |
Shortest-serving former TDs
This is a list of former TDs who served for less than 1 year in the Dáil. Unless otherwise specified, start and end dates given are those of the relevant general election.
| Name | Party | Elected | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| b = by-election | Vacated seat | Months | Notes | ||
| Kieran Doherty | 1981 | Died on 2 August 1981 | 2m | Died after 73 days on hunger strike; was a TD for 52 days | |
| Pierce McCan | 1918 | Died in prison of influenza, 6 March 1919 | 3m | The Westminster election was on 14 December 1918, but the First Dáil did not sit until 21 January 1919 | |
| Michael Carter | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| Arthur Clery | June 1927 | Did not contest September 1927 | 3m | ||
| Denis Cullen | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| William Duffy | June 1927 | Did not contest September 1927 | 3m | ||
| Thomas Falvey | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| Hugh Garahan | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| John Gill | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| Gilbert Hewson | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| John Horgan | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| John Jinks | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| Gilbert Lynch | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| Eugene Mullen | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| David O'Gorman | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| Timothy Quill | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| James Shannon | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| Thomas Tynan | June 1927 | Lost seat in September 1927 | 3m | ||
| Frank Drohan | 1921 | Resigned on 5 January 1922 | 7m | Returned unopposed on 24 May 1921; the Second Dáil convened on 16 August 1921. | |
| George Lee | June 2009 b | Resigned on 8 February 2010 | 8m | ||
| Carrie Acheson | 1981 | Lost seat in February 1982 | 9m | ||
| Paddy Agnew | 1981 | Did not contest February 1982 | 9m | ||
| Carey Joyce | 1981 | Lost seat in February 1982 | 9m | ||
| Seán Dublin Bay Loftus | 1981 | Lost seat in February 1982 | 9m | ||
| Hugh Kennedy | October 1923 b | Resigned on 25 June 1924 | 9m | Resigned to become Chief Justice of the Irish Free State | |
| Thomas Bellew | February 1982 | Lost seat in November 1982 | 10m | ||
| Gerry Brady | February 1982 | Lost seat in November 1982 | 10m | ||
| Ned Brennan | February 1982 | Lost seat in November 1982 | 10m | ||
| Jim Corr | February 1982 | Did not contest November 1982 | 10m | ||
| Henry Coyle | 1923 | Disqualified on 9 May 1924 | 10m | Sentenced to three years' imprisonment for bouncing cheques | |
| Alexis FitzGerald Jnr | February 1982 | Lost seat in November 1982 | 10m | ||
| Patrick Gallagher | February 1982 | Lost seat in November 1982 | 10m | ||
| Thomas O'Mahony | 1923 | Died on 20 July 1924 | 11m | ||
| Richard Stapleton | 1943 | Lost seat in 1944 | 11m |
The following were eligible for membership of the Dáil, but as Unionists, they did not recognise it. Those elected to Westminster in 1918 were eligible for the First Dáil.
| Name | Party | Elected | Vacated Westminster seat | Months | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh Anderson | 1918 | Resignation in 1919 | By-election was held on 4 March 1919 | |||
| Robert McCalmont | 1918 | Appointment as Commander of the Irish Guards in 1919 | By-election was held on 27 May 1919 | |||
| Arthur Samuels | 1918 | Appointment to the King's Bench in 1919 | By-election was held on 28 July 1919 |
Current office-holders, longest service in the Oireachtas
This is a list of current members of the Oireachtas who have served for at least 20 years, with continuous or broken service. Unless otherwise specified, start dates given are those of the relevant election.
| Name | Party | Office | First elected/appointed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| b = by-election | Years/Months | ||||
| (as of ) | Notes | ||||
| Willie O'Dea | TD | February 1982 | Father of the Dáil | ||
| Michael Lowry | TD | 1987 | |||
| Micheál Martin | TD | 1989 | Leader of Fianna Fáil | ||
| Brendan Smith | TD | 1992 | |||
| John McGuinness | TD | 1997 | |||
| Michael Moynihan | TD | 1997 | |||
| Seán Fleming | TD | 1997 | |||
| Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | TD | 1981 | 28 years, 2 months | ||
| (as of Jan 2026) | TD from 1981 to 1997, 2002 to 2009, 2016 to 2020, and from 2024 | ||||
| Seán Ó Fearghaíl | 2000 b | Senator from 2000 to 2002 | |||
| Noel Grealish | TD | 2002 | |||
| Aengus Ó Snodaigh | TD | 2002 | |||
| Timmy Dooley | 2002 | 22 years, 11 months | |||
| (as of Jan 2026) | Senator from 2002 to 2007, and 2020 to 2024. TD from 2007 to 2020 and from 2024 | ||||
| Michael McDowell | 1987 | 21 years, 5 month | |||
| (as of Jan 2026) | Did not hold office between 1989 and 1992, 1997 and 2002, 2007 and 2016. Senator from 2016 |
Longest-serving Senators
This is a list of current and former senators who have served for at least 20 years in the Seanad, including both the Free State Seanad and the Seanad established under the 1937 Constitution. There was a 22-month gap between the abolition of the Free State Seanad in 1936 and the inauguration in 1938 of the 2nd Seanad, the first incarnation of the new body.
- denotes serving senator
| Name | Party | First elected | Vacated seat | Years/Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Norris | 25 April 1987 | 22 January 2024 | 36 years, 8 months | Resigned seat | |
| Henry Barniville | 6 December 1922 | 23 September 1960 | 35 years, 11 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad | |
| Paddy Burke | 17 February 1993 | 30 January 2025 | 31 years, 11 months | ||
| Margaret Mary Pearse | 27 April 1938 | 7 November 1968 | 30 years, 6 months | ||
| Denis O'Donovan | 1 November 1989 | 30 January 2025 | 30 years, 3 months | Did not serve in 20th or 22nd Seanad | |
| Eoin Ryan Snr | 22 May 1957 | 3 April 1987 | 29 years, 10 months | ||
| Liam Ó Buachalla | 7 October 1939 | 24 July 1969 | 29 years, 9 months | ||
| Shane Ross | 8 October 1981 | 26 February 2011 | 29 years, 4 months | ||
| James G. Douglas | 6 December 1922 | 16 September 1954 | 28 years, 9 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad; | |
| Did not serve in 4th Seanad | |||||
| Rory Kiely | 27 October 1977 | 22 July 2007 | 28 years, 9 months | Did not serve in 16th Seanad | |
| Patrick McGowan | 23 June 1965 | 3 October 1999 | 28 years, 5 months | Did not serve in 15th, 16th and 17th Seanad | |
| Des Hanafin | 5 November 1969 | 26 June 2002 | 27 years, 10 months | Did not serve in 20th Seanad | |
| William Ryan | 14 December 1961 | 5 July 1989 | 27 years, 6 months | ||
| Michael Hayes | 27 April 1938 | 28 April 1965 | 27 years | ||
| Charles McDonald | 14 December 1961 | 17 December 1992 | 26 years, 4 months | Did not serve in 13th Seanad | |
| Paschal Mooney | 25 April 1987 | April 2016 | 26 years, 4 months | Did not serve 2y, 6m from July 2007 to January 2010 | |
| John Counihan | 6 December 1922 | 25 July 1951 | 26 years, 3 months | Did not serve in 2nd Seanad | |
| Thomas Ruane | 6 December 1934 | 28 April 1965 | 25 years, 9 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad; | |
| Did not serve in 4th and 6th Seanad | |||||
| Patrick O'Reilly | 18 August 1944 | 24 July 1969 | 24 years, 11 months | ||
| Seán O'Donovan | 27 April 1938 | 24 July 1969 | 24 years, 10 months | Did not serve in 6th and 8th Seanad | |
| Mick Lanigan | 27 October 1977 | 26 June 2002 | 24 years, 7 months | ||
| Joe O'Toole | 25 April 1987 | 29 April 2011 | 24 years | ||
| Donie Cassidy | 13 May 1982 | 29 April 2011 | 24 years | Did not serve in 22nd Seanad from 2002 to 2007 | |
| Diarmuid Wilson | 12 September 2002 | Incumbent | |||
| Feargal Quinn | 17 February 1993 | April 2016 | 23 years, 2 months | ||
| James Parkinson | 6 December 1922 | 31 July 1947 | 22 years, 9 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad | |
| Paul Coghlan | 20 September 1997 | 27 March 2020 | 22 years, 6 months | ||
| Patrick Baxter | 6 December 1934 | 3 April 1959 | 22 years, 5 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad | |
| John Butler | 27 April 1938 | 28 April 1965 | 22 years, 3 months | Did not serve in 9th Seanad | |
| Seán Hayes | 27 April 1938 | 28 April 1965 | 22 years, 2 months | Did not serve in 4th and 6th Seanad | |
| William O'Callaghan | 27 April 1938 | 1 September 1961 | 22 years, 2 months | Did not serve in 4th Seanad | |
| James Tunney | 27 April 1938 | 1 September 1961 | 22 years, 2 months | Did not serve in 4th Seanad | |
| Thomas Foran | 28 November 1923 | 12 March 1948 | 22 years | Did not serve in 2nd Seanad | |
| Patrick Fitzsimons | 21 April 1948 | 30 March 1973 | 22 years | Did not serve in 8th Seanad | |
| Peter Lynch | 7 September 1938 | 1 September 1961 | 22 years | ||
| Sir John Keane | 6 December 1922 | 12 March 1948 | 21 years, 10 months | Did not serve in 1934–1936 Seanad | |
| Francis O'Brien | 1 October 1989 | 29 April 2011 | 21 years, 7 months | ||
| William Quirke | 6 December 1931 | 5 March 1955 | 21 years, 4 months | Service interrupted by the abolition of the Free State Seanad | |
| William Bedell Stanford | 21 April 1948 | 24 July 1969 | 21 years, 3 months | ||
| Michael Yeats | 14 August 1951 | 12 March 1980 | 21 years | Did not serve in 8th and 9th Seanad | |
| James Dooge | 14 December 1961 | 3 April 1987 | 20 years, 10 months | Did not serve in 14th Seanad | |
| Micheál Prendergast | 22 July 1954 | 26 May 1977 | 20 years, 9 months | Did not serve from March 1973 to April 1975 | |
| Brian Mullooly | 8 October 1981 | 26 June 2002 | 20 years, 8 months | ||
| Brendan Ryan | 13 May 1982 | 22 July 2007 | 20 years, 5 months | Did not serve in 20th Seanad | |
| Eddie Bohan | 25 April 1987 | 22 July 2007 | 20 years, 2 months | ||
| Don Lydon | 25 April 1987 | 22 July 2007 | 20 years, 2 months | ||
| Bernard McGlinchey | 14 December 1961 | 21 December 1982 | 20 years, 2 months | Did not serve in 15th Seanad | |
| Patrick Quinlan | 22 May 1957 | 26 May 1977 | 20 years |
Oldest living former office-holders
Aged 85 or older:
| Name | Office(s) held | Date of birth | Age | Year retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Fitzpatrick | TD | 29 July 1926 | 1982 | |
| Patrick Norton | TD / Senator | 1928 | + | 1973 |
| Eileen Lemass | TD / MEP | 7 July 1932 | 1989 | |
| Roger Garland | TD | February 1933 | + | 1992 |
| Liam Hyland | TD / Senator / MEP | 23 April 1933 | 2004 | |
| Tom Raftery | Senator / MEP | 15 August 1933 | 1993 | |
| Jim Corr | TD | 25 January 1934 | 1982 | |
| Rory O'Hanlon | TD | 7 February 1934 | 2011 | |
| Catherine McGuinness | Senator | 14 November 1934 | 1987 | |
| Ann Ormonde | Senator | 20 January 1935 | 2011 | |
| Bríd Rodgers | Senator | 20 February 1935 | 2002 | |
| Brian Mullooly | Senator | 21 February 1935 | 2002 | |
| David Andrews | TD | 15 March 1935 | 2002 | |
| Barry Desmond | TD | 15 May 1935 | 1994 | |
| Charles McDonald | TD / Senator / MEP | 11 June 1935 | 1993 | |
| Brendan Griffin | TD | 28 August 1935 | 1989 | |
| Michael Woods | TD | 8 December 1935 | 2011 | |
| Camilla Hannon | Senator | 21 July 1936 | 1982 | |
| Barry Cogan | TD / Senator | 27 September 1936 | 1982 | |
| Matt Brennan | TD | 16 October 1936 | 2002 | |
| Jim Fitzsimons | TD / MEP | 16 December 1936 | 2004 | |
| John Donnellan | TD | 27 March 1937 | 1989 | |
| Mick Lanigan | Senator | 30 January 1938 | 2002 | |
| Ray MacSharry | TD | 29 April 1938 | 1988 | |
| Gerry Collins | TD / MEP | 16 October 1938 | 2004 | |
| Joe Jacob | TD | 1 April 1939 | 2007 | |
| Pádraig Flynn | TD | 9 May 1939 | 1999 | |
| Labhrás Ó Murchú | Senator | 14 August 1939 | 2016 | |
| Tom Gildea | TD | September 1939 | 2004 | |
| Tom Moffatt | TD | January 1940 | 2002 | |
| John Dennehy | TD | 22 March 1940 | 1992 | |
| Lorcan Allen | TD | 27 March 1940 | 1982 | |
| Denis Cregan | Senator | 4 May 1940 | 2002 | |
| Proinsias De Rossa | TD / MEP | 15 May 1940 | 2012 | |
| Ciarán Murphy | TD | 30 May 1940 | 1982 | |
| John McCoy | TD | 1 July 1940 | 1989 | |
| Tom Enright | TD / Senator | 26 July 1940 | 2002 | |
| John Horgan | TD / Senator / MEP | 26 October 1940 | 1983 | |
| Michael Smith | TD / Senator | 8 November 1940 | 2007 | |
| Brendan Toal | TD | 1 December 1940 | 1977 |
Oldest ever office-holders
Office holders aged 75 or older:
| Name | Office | Age | Year retired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Éamon de Valera | President | Retired aged 90 | 1973 |
| Michael D. Higgins | President | Retired aged 84 | 2025 |
| Gerald Boland | Senator | Retired aged 84 | 1969 |
| Seán MacEntee | TD | Retired aged 80 | 1969 |
| Maurice Hayes | Senator | Retired aged 80 | 2007 |
| Charles Fagan | TD | Retired aged 80 | 1961 |
| David Norris | Senator | Retired aged 79 | 2024 |
| Jackie Healy-Rae | TD | Retired aged 79 | 2011 |
| Feargal Quinn | Senator | Retired aged 79 | 2016 |
| Bernard Durkan | TD | Lost seat aged 79 | 2024 |
| James Ryan | Senator | Retired aged 77 | 1969 |
| Seán T. O'Kelly | President | Retired aged 77 | 1959 |
| P. J. Sheehan | TD | Retired aged 77 | 2011 |
| Rory O'Hanlon | TD | Retired aged 77 | 2011 |
| Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | TD | In office aged | — |
| Paddy Smith | TD | Retired aged 76 | 1977 |
| Ann Ormonde | Senator | Lost seat aged 76 | 2011 |
| Labhrás Ó Murchú | Senator | Retired aged 76 | 2016 |
| Michael Noonan | TD | Retired aged 76 | 2020 |
| Paul Coghlan | Senator | Retired aged 75 | 2020 |
| Seán Barrett | TD | Retired aged 75 | 2020 |
| Séamus Healy | TD | In office aged | — |
Youngest ever office-holders
| Name | Office | Age on election | Year elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| William J. Murphy | TD | 21y 1m | 1949 |
| Joseph Sweeney | TD | 21y 6m | 1918 |
| Lorcan Allen | TD | 21y 6m | 1961 |
| Kathleen O'Connor | TD | 21y 7m | 1956 |
| Ivan Yates | TD | 21y 8m | 1981 |
| Mary Coughlan | TD | 21y 9m | 1987 |
| John Bruton | TD | 22y 1m | 1969 |
| Paddy Smith | TD | 22y 2m | 1923 |
| Miriam Kearney | Senator | 22y 3m | 1981 |
| Myra Barry | TD | 22y 4m | 1979 |
| Síle de Valera | TD | 22y 6m | 1977 |
| Kathryn Reilly | Senator | 22y 7m | 2011 |
| James O'Connor | TD | 22y 7m | 2020 |
| Oliver J. Flanagan | TD | 23y 1m | 1943 |
| Liam Cosgrave | TD | 23y 2m | 1943 |
Longest surviving cabinet members
| Government | Members |
|---|---|
| Brugha (1919) | Richard Mulcahy (died 1971) |
| De Valera (1919–1921) | Éamon de Valera (died 1975) |
| De Valera (1921–1922) | |
| Griffith (1922) | Michael Hayes (died 1976) |
| Collins (1922) | |
| Cosgrave (1922) | Ernest Blythe (died 1975) |
| Cosgrave (1922–1923) | |
| Cosgrave (1923–1927) | Patrick McGilligan (died 1979) |
| Cosgrave (1927) | |
| Cosgrave (1927–1930) | |
| Cosgrave (1930–1932) | |
| De Valera (1932–1933) | Seán MacEntee (died 1984) |
| De Valera (1933–1937) | |
| De Valera (1937) | |
| De Valera (1937–1938) | |
| De Valera (1938–1943) | |
| De Valera (1943–1944) | |
| De Valera (1944–1948) | |
| Costello (1948–1951) | Noël Browne (died 1997) |
| De Valera (1951–1954) | Seán MacEntee (died 1984) |
| Costello (1954–1957) | Liam Cosgrave (died 2017) |
| De Valera (1957–1959) | Kevin Boland (died 2001) |
| Lemass (1959–1961) | Patrick Hillery (died 2008) |
| Lemass (1961–1965) | |
| Lemass (1965–1966) | |
| Lynch (1966–1969) | Pádraig Faulkner (died 2012) |
| Lynch (1969–1973) | Gerry Collins |
| Cosgrave (1973–1977) | Patrick Cooney (died 2025) |
| Lynch (1977–1979) | Gerry Collins |
| Haughey (1979–1981) | Ray Burke, Gerry Collins, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Ray MacSharry, Michael Woods |
| FitzGerald (1981–1982) | Alan Dukes |
| Haughey (1982) | Ray Burke, Gerry Collins, Pádraig Flynn, Ray MacSharry, Michael Woods |
| FitzGerald (1982–1987) | Alan Dukes, Barry Desmond, Michael Noonan, Ruairi Quinn, Dick Spring |
Longest surviving Dáil members
| Dáil | Election | Members |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Dáil | 1918 | Seán MacEntee (died 1984) |
| 2nd Dáil | 1921 | Tom Maguire (died 1993) |
| 3rd Dáil | 1922 | |
| 4th Dáil | 1923 | |
| 5th Dáil | 1927 (June) | Seán MacEntee (died 1984) |
| 6th Dáil | 1927 (Sept) | |
| 7th Dáil | 1932 | James Dillon (died 1986) |
| 8th Dáil | 1933 | James McGuire (died 1989) |
| 9th Dáil | 1937 | James Dillon (died 1986) |
| 10th Dáil | 1938 | |
| 11th Dáil | 1943 | Liam Cosgrave (died 2017) |
| 12th Dáil | 1944 | |
| 13th Dáil | 1948 | William J. Murphy (died 2018) |
| 14th Dáil | 1951 | Liam Cosgrave (died 2017) |
| 15th Dáil | 1954 | Patrick Byrne (died 2021) |
| 16th Dáil | 1957 | Brigid Hogan (died 2022) |
| 17th Dáil | 1961 | Lorcan Allen, John Donnellan |
| 18th Dáil | 1965 | Lorcan Allen, David Andrews, John Donnellan, |
| Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, Patrick Norton |
Longest lived former office-holders
Aged 90 or more at time of death:
| Name | Date of birth | Date of death | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Brady | 10 June 1893 | 6 January 1995 | 101 years, 6 months |
| Eddie Filgate | 16 September 1915 | 19 January 2017 | 101 years, 4 months |
| Tom Maguire | 28 March 1892 | 5 July 1993 | 101 years, 3 months |
| T. K. Whitaker | 8 December 1916 | 9 January 2017 | 100 years, 1 month |
| Tom Fitzpatrick | 29 July 1926 | ||
| Edward MacLysaght | 6 November 1887 | 4 March 1986 | 98 years, 3 months |
| Seán Ó Ceallaigh | 17 April 1896 | 15 June 1994 | 98 years, 1 month |
| Domhnall Ua Buachalla | 5 February 1866 | 30 October 1963 | 97 years, 8 months |
| Liam Cosgrave | 13 April 1920 | 4 October 2017 | 97 years, 5 months |
| Matthew Stafford | 1852 | 12 June 1950 | 97 years, 5 months+ |
| Patrick Norton | 1928 | ||
| Patrick Byrne | 2 April 1925 | 19 October 2021 | 96 years, 6 months |
| George Noble Plunkett | 3 December 1851 | 12 March 1948 | 96 years, 3 months |
| Séamus Dolan | 10 December 1914 | 10 August 2010 | 95 years, 8 months |
| Thomas Finlay | 17 September 1922 | 3 December 2017 | 95 years, 2 months |
| John A. Murphy | 17 January 1927 | 28 February 2022 | 95 years, 1 month |
| Thomas Westropp Bennett | 30 January 1867 | 1 February 1962 | 95 years |
| Jimmy Leonard | 5 June 1927 | 13 April 2022 | |
| Patrick Cooney | 2 March 1931 | 6 December 2025 | 94 years, 9 months |
| Seán Treacy | 23 September 1923 | 23 March 2018 | 94 years, 6 months |
| Gerard Lynch | 15 June 1931 | 20 December 2025 | 94 years, 6 months |
| Kathleen Clarke | 11 April 1878 | 29 September 1972 | 94 years, 5 months |
| Robert Barton | 4 March 1881 | 10 August 1975 | 94 years, 5 months |
| Joseph Farrell | 1 July 1905 | 24 November 1999 | 94 years, 4 months |
| Seán MacEntee | 22 August 1889 | 10 January 1984 | 94 years, 4 months |
| William McMullen | 22 July 1888 | 12 December 1982 | 94 years, 4 months |
| Pádraig Faulkner | 12 March 1918 | 1 June 2012 | 94 years, 2 months |
| Jack Harte | 10 December 1920 | 9 March 2015 | 94 years, 2 months |
| Tom O'Donnell | 30 August 1926 | 8 October 2020 | 94 years, 1 month |
| Hugh Conaghan | 6 May 1926 | 25 March 2020 | 93 years, 10 months |
| Tras Honan | 4 January 1930 | 25 November 2023 | 93 years, 10 months |
| Richard Barry | 4 September 1919 | 28 April 2013 | 93 years, 7 months |
| Tony Herbert | 9 August 1920 | 6 March 2014 | 93 years, 6 months |
| Eileen Lemass | 7 July 1932 | ||
| Patrick Finucane | 5 December 1890 | 10 April 1984 | 93 years, 4 months |
| Denis Cullen | 23 September 1878 | 26 November 1971 | 93 years, 2 months |
| Peadar O'Donnell | 22 February 1893 | 13 May 1986 | 93 years, 2 months |
| Donal Creed | 7 September 1924 | 23 November 2017 | 93 years, 2 months |
| Sam McAughtry | 24 March 1921 | 28 March 2014 | 93 years |
| Kit Ahern | 13 January 1915 | 27 December 2007 | 92 years, 11 months |
| Roger Garland | February 1933 | ||
| Éamon de Valera | 14 October 1882 | 29 August 1975 | 92 years, 10 months |
| William Sheldon | 18 January 1907 | 1 November 1999 | 92 years, 9 months |
| Liam Hyland | 23 April 1933 | ||
| Charles Fagan | 1 October 1881 | 8 May 1974 | 92 years, 7 months |
| Ted Russell | 1 April 1912 | 28 November 2004 | 92 years, 7 months |
| Tom Raftery | 15 August 1933 | ||
| Joseph Dowling | 2 February 1922 | 31 May 2014 | 92 years, 3 months |
| Patrick O'Reilly | 1911 | March 2003 | 92 years+ |
| Jim Corr | 25 January 1934 | ||
| Rory O'Hanlon | 7 February 1934 | ||
| Patrick Shanahan | 10 March 1908 | 1 February 2000 | 91 years, 10 months |
| Andy O'Brien | 21 January 1915 | 4 December 2006 | 91 years, 10 months |
| Kieran Crotty | 30 August 1930 | 22 July 2022 | 91 years, 10 months |
| Eileen Costello | 27 June 1870 | 4 March 1962 | 91 years, 8 months |
| John N. Ross | 17 May 1920 | 24 December 2011 | 91 years, 7 months |
| Robert Malachy Burke | 1 March 1907 | 20 September 1998 | 91 years, 6 months |
| Peter Sands | 1 May 1924 | 17 October 2015 | 91 years, 5 months |
| Séamus de Brún | 1 October 1911 | 5 March 2003 | 91 years, 5 months |
| Hugh Gibbons | 6 July 1916 | 13 November 2007 | 91 years, 4 months |
| Thomas Meaney | 11 August 1931 | 26 December 2022 | 91 years, 4 months |
| Catherine McGuinness | 14 November 1934 | ||
| Jackie Fahey | 23 January 1928 | 18 March 2019 | 91 years, 1 month |
| Conor Cruise O'Brien | 3 November 1917 | 18 December 2008 | 91 years, 1 month |
| Edward McGuire | 28 August 1901 | 27 October 1992 | 91 years, 1 month |
| Richard Conroy | 12 September 1933 | 14 October 2024 | 91 years, 1 month |
| Ann Ormonde | 20 January 1935 | ||
| Bríd Rodgers | 20 February 1935 | ||
| Brian Mullooly | 21 February 1935 | ||
| David Andrews | 15 March 1935 | ||
| Bryan Cusack | 2 August 1882 | 24 May 1973 | 90 years, 9 months |
| Thomas Johnson | 17 May 1872 | 17 January 1963 | |
| Barry Desmond | 15 May 1935 | ||
| Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins | 10 March 1932 | 2 November 2022 | 90 years, 7 months |
| Patrick McGilligan | 12 April 1889 | 15 November 1979 | 90 years, 7 months |
| Charles McDonald | 11 June 1935 | ||
| Dominick Murphy | 1918 | 1 June 2009 | 90 years, 5 months+ |
| Maurice Hayes | 8 July 1927 | 23 December 2017 | 90 years, 5 months |
| William J. Murphy | 17 May 1928 | 18 September 2018 | 90 years, 4 months |
| Brendan Griffin | 28 August 1935 | ||
| Margaret Mary Pearse | 24 August 1878 | 7 November 1968 | 90 years, 2 months |
| Michael Woods | 8 December 1935 | ||
| Michael D'Arcy | 7 March 1934 | 1 May 2024 | 90 years, 1 month |
| Richie Ryan | 27 February 1929 | 17 March 2019 | 90 years |
| John Griffith | 5 October 1848 | 21 October 1938 | 90 years |
| Patrick Lalor | 21 July 1926 | 29 July 2016 | 90 years |
Shortest lived office-holders
Aged 40 or younger at time of death:
| Name | Date of birth | Date of death | Age | Cause of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kieran Doherty | 16 October 1955 | 2 August 1981 | 25y | Hunger strike |
| Liam Mellows | 25 May 1895 | 8 December 1922 | 27y 6m | Execution during the Irish Civil War |
| Michael Collins | 16 October 1890 | 22 August 1922 | 31y 10m | Shot during the Irish Civil War |
| Don Davern | 4 March 1935 | 2 November 1968 | 33y 7m | Sudden illness |
| Michael Derham | 1889 | 20 November 1923 | 34y 10m- | Sudden illness |
| Kevin O'Higgins | 7 June 1892 | 10 July 1927 | 35y 1m | Assassinated by former Civil War opponents |
| Séamus Dwyer | 15 November 1886 | 20 December 1922 | 36y 1m | Assassinated during the Irish Civil War |
| Billy Fox | 3 January 1939 | 12 March 1974 | 35y 2m | Assassinated during the Troubles |
| Harry Boland | 27 April 1887 | 31 July 1922 | 35y 3m | Shot during the Irish Civil War |
| Frank Carney | 25 April 1896 | 19 October 1932 | 36y 5m | Ill-health |
| Pierce McCan | 2 August 1882 | 6 March 1919 | 36y 7m | Influenza epidemic |
| Séamus Ryan | 6 December 1895 | 30 June 1933 | 37y 6m | Sudden illness |
| Thomas A. Finlay | 11 October 1893 | 22 November 1932 | 39y 1m | Typhoid fever |
| A. P. Byrne | 12 June 1913 | 26 July 1952 | 39y 1m | |
| Sir Osmond Esmonde | 4 April 1896 | 22 July 1936 | 40y 3m | Sudden illness |
| Clement Coughlan | 14 August 1942 | 1 February 1983 | 40y 5m | Traffic accident |
Members who died in office
Main article: List of members of Dáil Éireann who died in office
Main article: List of members of Seanad Éireann who died in office
Longest-serving cabinet ministers (in same office)
| Name | Office | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Seán Lemass | Minister for Industry and Commerce | 19 years, 2 months |
| Éamon de Valera | Minister for External Affairs | 15 years, 11 months |
| Frank Aiken | Minister for External Affairs | 15 years, 3 months |
| James Ryan | Minister for Agriculture | 14 years, 10 months |
| Thomas Derrig | Minister for Education | 14 years, 1 month |
| Gerald Boland | Minister for Justice | 11 years, 4 months |
| Oscar Traynor | Minister for Defence | 11 years, 4 months |
| Seán MacEntee | Minister for Finance | 10 years, 5 months |
Shortest-serving cabinet ministers
This table lists the shortest periods that a member of government held a particular ministerial office. In some of these cases, the minister held it as well as another ministerial office, being appointed after the resignation of another member of government. Acting Ministers are not listed. Jim McDaid, who was proposed as Minister for Defence on 13 November 1991, but whose name was withdrawn later that day, is not included.
| Name | Office | Length | Term of Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertie Ahern | Minister for Industry and Commerce | 8 days | 4 January 1993 | 12 January 1993 |
| Brian Cowen | Minister for Energy | 11 days | 12 January 1993 | 20 January 1993 |
| Frank Aiken | Minister for Agriculture | 11 days | 16 November 1957 | 27 November 1957 |
| Barry Cowen | Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine | 17 days | 27 June 2020 | 14 July 2020 |
| Kevin O'Higgins | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 17 days | 23 June 1927 | 10 July 1927 |
| Arthur Griffith | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 17 days | 26 July 1922 | 12 August 1922 |
| Thomas Derrig | Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | 19 days | 8 September 1939 | 27 September 1939 |
| Seán T. O'Kelly | Minister for Education | 19 days | 8 September 1939 | 27 September 1939 |
| Paddy Power | Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism | 20 days | 7 October 1982 | 27 October 1982 |
| Erskine Childers | Director of Propaganda | 20 days | 12 February 1921 | 8 March 1921 |
| John Wilson | Minister for Communications | 27 days | 10 March 1987 | 31 March 1987 |
| Bertie Ahern | Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht | 27 days | 18 November 1994 | 15 December 1994 |
| Charlie McCreevy | Minister for Enterprise and Employment | 27 days | 18 November 1994 | 15 December 1994 |
| Máire Geoghegan-Quinn | Minister for Equality and Law Reform | 27 days | 18 November 1994 | 15 December 1994 |
| Michael Smith | Minister for Education | 27 days | 18 November 1994 | 15 December 1994 |
| Michael Woods | Minister for Health | 27 days | 18 November 1994 | 15 December 1994 |
| Dara Calleary | Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine | 38 days | 15 July 2020 | 21 August 2020 |
People appointed to cabinet at the start of their first term as TD
| Name | Office | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Noël Browne | Minister for Health | February 1948 |
| Kevin Boland | Minister for Defence | March 1957 |
| Martin O'Donoghue | Minister for Economic Planning and Development | July 1977 |
| Alan Dukes | Minister for Agriculture | June 1981 |
| Niamh Bhreathnach | Minister for Education | January 1993 |
| Katherine Zappone | Minister for Children and Youth Affairs | May 2016 |
| Norma Foley | Minister for Education | June 2020 |
| Roderic O'Gorman | Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth | June 2020 |
People appointed as Minister of State at the start of their first term as TD
| Name | Office | Date |
|---|---|---|
| John O'Donovan | Parliamentary Secretary to the Government | June 1954 |
| John M. Kelly | Government Chief Whip | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence | March 1973 | |
| Mary Flaherty | Minister of State for Poverty and the Family | June 1981 |
| Dick Spring | Minister of State for Law Reform | June 1981 |
| Ted Nealon | Minister of State for Western Development | June 1981 |
| Joan Burton | Minister of State for Poverty | January 1993 |
| Eithne FitzGerald | Minister of State for the National Development Plan | January 1993 |
| Tim O'Malley | Minister of State for Mental Health Services and Food Safety | June 2002 |
| Ciarán Cannon | Minister of State for Training and Skills | March 2011 |
| Alan Kelly | Minister of State for Public and Commuter Transport | March 2011 |
| Seán Canney | Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief | May 2016 |
| Ossian Smyth | Minister of State for Public Procurement and eGovernment | July 2020 |
| Malcolm Noonan | Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform | July 2020 |
Senators appointed to cabinet
| Name | Office | Date | Government |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Connolly | Minister for Posts and Telegraphs | March 1932 | 6th Exec. Council |
| Minister for Lands and Fisheries | February 1933 | 7th Exec. Council | |
| Seán Moylan | Minister for Agriculture | May 1957 | 8th government |
| James Dooge | Minister for Foreign Affairs | October 1981 | 17th government |
Oldest person currently in office
Politicians born before 1956:
| Name | Office | Date of birth | Age as of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pat "the Cope" Gallagher | TD | 10 March 1948 | |
| Séamus Healy | TD | 9 August 1950 | |
| Michael McDowell | Senator | 1 May 1951 | |
| Willie O'Dea | TD | 1 November 1952 | |
| Michael Lowry | TD | 13 March 1953 | |
| Dessie Ellis | TD | 23 September 1953 | |
| Gerard Craughwell | Senator | 22 November 1953 | |
| Marian Harkin | TD | 26 November 1953 | |
| Danny Healy-Rae | TD | 16 July 1954 | |
| Eamon Scanlon | TD | 20 September 1954 | |
| John McGuinness | TD | 15 March 1955 | |
| Joe O'Reilly | Senator | 1 April 1955 |
Youngest person currently in office
Politicians born since 1986:
| Name | Office | Date of birth | Age as of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eoghan Kenny | TD | February 2000 | |
| Albert Dolan | TD | 1 December 1998 | |
| James O'Connor | TD | 20 June 1997 | |
| Barry Heneghan | TD | 1997 | |
| Louis O'Hara | TD | 1997 | |
| Paul Lawless | TD | 1996 | |
| Ryan O'Meara | TD | 1994 | |
| Conor Sheehan | TD | 15 June 1993 | |
| Claire Kerrane | TD | 24 April 1992 | |
| Jack Chambers | TD | 21 November 1990 | |
| Mairéad Farrell | TD | 6 January 1990 | |
| Eileen Flynn | Senator | 1990 | |
| Pádraig Rice | TD | 1990 | |
| Holly Cairns | TD | 4 November 1989 | |
| Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire | TD | 8 February 1989 | |
| John Cummins | TD | 29 June 1988 | |
| Naoise Ó Cearúil | TD | 1988 | |
| Eoin Hayes | TD | 15 October 1987 | |
| Gary Gannon | TD | 18 February 1987 | |
| Simon Harris | TD | 17 October 1986 | |
| Helen McEntee | TD | 8 June 1986 | |
| Aidan Farrelly | TD | 1986 |
Members of the current government by age
Main article: 35th government of Ireland
| Name | Date of birth | Age as of |
|---|---|---|
| Micheál Martin | 1 August 1960 | |
| Jim O'Callaghan | 5 January 1968 | |
| Norma Foley | 1970 | |
| Dara Calleary | 10 May 1973 | |
| Darragh O'Brien | 8 July 1974 | |
| James Browne | 15 October 1975 | |
| James Lawless | 19 August 1976 | |
| Patrick O'Donovan | 21 March 1977 | |
| Hildegarde Naughton | 1 May 1977 | |
| Martin Heydon | 9 August 1978 | |
| Jennifer Carroll MacNeill | 5 September 1980 | |
| Peter Burke | 22 October 1982 | |
| Helen McEntee | 8 June 1986 | |
| Simon Harris | 17 October 1986 | |
| Jack Chambers | 21 November 1990 |
Longest service (cumulative)
| Name | Office(s) | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Éamon de Valera | TD / President | 55 |
| Paddy Smith | TD | 54 |
| Frank Aiken | TD | 50 |
| James Ryan | TD / Senator | 50 |
| Neil Blaney | TD / MEP | 47 |
| Michael D. Higgins | Senator / TD / President | 47 |
| Gerald Boland | TD / Senator | 46 |
Married couples/Domestic partners in the same Oireachtas
| Couple | Oireachtas | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Michael O'Higgins | Brigid Hogan-O'Higgins | 16th, 17th and 18th Dáil |
| Alexis FitzGerald Jnr | Mary Flaherty | 23rd Dáil and 15th Seanad; 24th Dáil and 17th Seanad |
| Joe McHugh | Olwyn Enright | 29th Dáil and 22nd Seanad; 30th Dáil |
| Paul Bradford | Lucinda Creighton | 24th Seanad and 31st Dáil |
| Martin McAleese | Mary McAleese | 24th Seanad and President of Ireland |
| Francis Noel Duffy | Catherine Martin | 33rd Dáil |
| Eoin Ó Broin | Lynn Boylan | 33rd Dáil and 26th Seanad |
| Colm Brophy | Maeve O'Connell | 34th Dáil |
Members of both the British Parliament and of the Oireachtas
This lists those with a separate mandate to the Oireachtas and the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and therefore does not include members of the 1st Dáil.
| Name | Parliament of the United Kingdom | Oireachtas | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerry Adams | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1983–1992 | |
| MP 1997–2011 | |||
| Dermot Bourke, 7th Earl of Mayo | House of Lords}}; width: 1px;" | Peer 1890–1927R | |
| P. J. Brady | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1910–1918 | |
| Alfie Byrne | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1915–1918 | |
| TD 1932–1956 | |||
| Senator 1928–1931 | |||
| James Campbell, later Lord Glenavy | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1898–1900 | |
| MP 1903–1917 | |||
| House of Lords}}; width: 1px;" | Peer 1921–1931H | ||
| Bryan Cooper | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1910 | |
| James Cosgrave | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1914–1918 | |
| William Duffy | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1900–1918 | |
| Sir John Esmonde | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1915–1918 | |
| Sir Thomas Esmonde | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1885–1918 | |
| Bernard Forbes, 8th Earl of Granard | House of Lords}}; width: 1px;" | Peer 1889–1948H | |
| Laurence Ginnell | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1906–1918 | |
| Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh | House of Lords}}; width: 1px;" | Peer 1967–1992H | |
| Edward Haughey, later Lord Ballyedmond | House of Lords}}; width: 1px;" | Peer 2004–2014L | |
| Ralph Howard, 7th Earl of Wicklow | House of Lords}}; width: 1px;" | Peer 1905–1946R | |
| Hugh Law | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1902–1918 | |
| Elisha McCallion | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 2017–2019 | |
| Seamus Mallon | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1986–2005 | |
| James O'Mara | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1900–1907 | |
| TD 1924–1927 | |||
| Stephen O'Mara | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1886 | |
| Earl of Kerry, later Marquess of Lansdowne | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1908–1918 | |
| House of Lords}}; width: 1px;" | Peer 1927–1936H | ||
| Horace Plunkett | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1892–1900 | |
| William Redmond | House of Commons}}; width: 1px;" | MP 1910–1922 | |
| Geoffrey Taylour, 4th Marquess of Headfort | House of Lords}}; width: 1px;" | Peer 1894–1943H | |
| Windham Wyndham-Quin, | |||
| 4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl | House of Lords}}; width: 1px;" | Peer 1871–1926H |
Notes: :R Sat as an Irish representative peer under the Act of Union 1800 :H Sat as a hereditary peer :L Sat as a life peer
Diversity records
Women
- First female TD – Constance Markievicz, elected to the First Dáil in 1918
- First female minister – Constance Markievicz was appointed as Minister for Labour in the Ministry of Dáil Éireann from 1919 to 1922
- First female Senators – Eileen Costello, Ellen Cuffe, Alice Stopford Green and Jennie Wyse Power, elected or nominated in 1922
- First female Minister of State – Máire Geoghegan-Quinn was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy in 1977 (becoming Minister of State in 1978 when the position was reformed)
- First female cabinet minister since independence – Máire Geoghegan-Quinn was appointed Minister for the Gaeltacht in 1979
- First female party leader in the Dáil – Mary Harney (Progressive Democrats), 1993
- First female President of Ireland – Mary Robinson, who was elected in 1990 and served until 1997
- First female Tánaiste – Mary Harney, appointed in 1997
- First female Leader of the Opposition – Mary Lou McDonald – 2020
- First female Ceann Comhairle – Verona Murphy – 2024
Religion
- First Jewish Senator – Ellen Cuffe, appointed to the Irish Free State Seanad Éireann as an independent member (1922–1931)
- First Jewish TD – Robert Briscoe, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South (1932–1948) and Dublin South-West (1948–1961)
- First openly atheist TD – Jim Kemmy, Democratic Socialist Party/Labour Party TD for Limerick East 1981–1982 and 1987–1997
- First Muslim TD – Moosajee Bhamjee, Labour Party TD for Clare from 1992 to 1997
- First Quaker Senator – James G. Douglas, Independent Senator from 1922 to 1936 and 1938 to 1954
LGBT people
Seanad
- First openly gay Oireachtas member – David Norris, independent senator for Dublin University from 1987 to 2024.
- First openly lesbian Oireachtas member – Katherine Zappone, independent senator from 2011 to 2016.
- First member of the Oireachtas in a recognised same-sex relationship – Katherine Zappone, who married Ann Louise Gilligan in British Columbia, Canada in 2003. This was recognised in Irish law as a civil partnership from 2010 and as marriage from 2015.
- First serving member of the Oireachtas to enter into a same-sex marriage – Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael senator) in December 2017.
- First serving member of the Oireachtas to come out as bisexual – Annie Hoey, (Labour Party senator) in 2020.
- First openly gay Cathaoirleach – Jerry Buttimer from December 2022 to November 2024
Dáil
- First openly gay TDs – John Lyons (Labour Party TD) and Dominic Hannigan (Labour Party TD), both elected in 2011.
- First serving member of the Oireachtas to come out – Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael), Senator 2007–2011, 2016–2024, TD 2011–2016 and since 2024, came out in April 2012.
- First openly lesbian TD – Katherine Zappone, Independent TD from 2016 to 2020.
- First openly gay TD elected in a by-election, and first openly gay Fianna Fáil TD – Malcolm Byrne, elected in November 2019, served until February 2020, and again from November 2024.
- First openly gay Social Democrats TD – Cian O'Callaghan, TD since February 2020. Previously first openly gay mayor of a city or county council in Ireland. Mayor of Fingal County Council in 2012.
- First openly gay Green Party TD – Roderic O'Gorman, TD since February 2020.
- First openly gay Independent Ireland TD – Ken O'Flynn, TD since November 2024.
- First openly gay TD to be elected the leader of a political party in Dáil Eireann – Leo Varadkar (leader of Fine Gael from June 2017 to March 2024). (Roderic O'Gorman became the second openly gay TD to be elected leader of a political party in the Dáil when he was elected leader of the Green Party in July 2024).
- First openly gay deputy leader of Fianna Fáil – Jack Chambers, since June 2024.
- First Dáil constituency to elect two openly gay TDs in the same election – Dublin West since February 2020, with Roderic O'Gorman and Leo Varadkar. A third TD for Dublin West, Jack Chambers, came out as gay in January 2024. This made the four-seater Dublin West constituency the first constituency to be represented by a majority of openly gay TDs in the same Dáil.
- First serving TD to enter into a same-sex marriage – Roderic O'Gorman (Green Party TD) in August 2023.
Government
- First serving cabinet minister to come out – Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael TD), first elected in 2007, became a minister in 2011, came out in 2015. Pat Carey (Fianna Fáil) who was a TD from 1997 to 2011, and served as a minister from 2010 to 2011, came out in 2015 after his retirement.
- First openly lesbian serving cabinet minister – Katherine Zappone, Minister from 2016 to 2020.
- First openly gay Taoiseach – Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael TD), Taoiseach from June 2017 to June 2020.
- First openly gay Tánaiste – Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael TD), Tánaiste from June 2020 to December 2022.
- First constituency to have two openly gay cabinet ministers – Dublin West from 2020 to 2024; Leo Varadkar and Roderic O'Gorman, and again from June 2024 to January 2025, Jack Chambers and Roderic O'Gorman.
- First serving cabinet minister to enter into a same-sex marriage – Roderic O'Gorman (Green Party TD) in August 2023.
Ethnic minorities
- First Indian South African/Irish of Indian descent in the Oireachtas – Moosajee Bhamjee, Labour TD for Clare 1992–1997.
- First Irish of Indian descent to be a government minister (2011), Taoiseach (2017–2020, 2022–2024) and Tánaiste (2020–2022) – Leo Varadkar, Fine Gael TD elected in 2007 for Dublin West.
- First Irish of Czech descent member of the Oireachtas – Ivana Bacik, elected to the Seanad in 2007 for the Labour Party.
- First person of Traveller descent member of the Oireachtas – Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Sinn Féin TD elected to the Dáil in 2011 for Donegal.
- First Traveller member of the Oireachtas – Eileen Flynn, appointed to the Seanad in 2020.
Party leaders
Party leaders serving 10 years or more:
| Leader | Tenure | Party | Period | Constituency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Éamon de Valera | 42y | 1917–1926 | ||
| 1926–1959 | ||||
| Ruairí Ó Brádaigh | 39y | 1970–1983 | Longford–Westmeath | |
| 1986–2009 | ||||
| Gerry Adams | 35y | 1983–2018 | ||
| William Norton | 28y | 1932–1960 | Kildare | |
| Tomás Mac Giolla | 26y | 1962–1970 | Dublin West | |
| 1970–1977 | ||||
| 1977–1982 | ||||
| 1982–1988 | ||||
| Joseph Blowick | 21y | 1944–1965 | Mayo South | |
| W. T. Cosgrave | 20y | 1923–1933 | ||
| 1934–1944 | ||||
| Seán MacBride | 19y | 1946–1965 | Dublin County | |
| John Redmond | 18y | 1900–1918 | Waterford City | |
| Brendan Corish | 17y | 1960–1977 | Wexford | |
| Micheál Martin | 15y | 2011–present | Cork South-Central | |
| Richard Mulcahy | 15y | 1944–1959 | Tipperary | |
| Dick Spring | 15y | 1982–1997 | Kerry North | |
| Enda Kenny | 15y | 2002–2017 | ||
| Mary Harney | 14y | |||
| Bertie Ahern | 13y | 1994–2008 | ||
| Jack Lynch | 13y | 1966–1979 | Cork City | |
| Charles Haughey | 13y | 1979–1992 | Dublin North-Central | |
| Margaret Buckley | 13y | 1937–1950 | None | |
| Eamon Ryan | 13y | 2011–2024 | Dublin Bay South | |
| Liam Cosgrave | 12y | 1965–1977 | Dún Laoghaire | |
| John Bruton | 11y | 1990–2001 | Meath | |
| Garret FitzGerald | 10y | 1977–1987 | Dublin South-East |
Footnotes
References
References
- "3. AN ROLLA. – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Tuesday, 21 January 1919". Houses of the Oireachtas.
- "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Wednesday, 13 November 1991".
- "Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (Resumed) – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Wednesday, 13 November 1991".
- O'Keeffe, Donal. (24 September 2022). ""We met in the wine section": Cork councillor on finding love and canvassing plans for the honeymoon". [[The Echo (Cork).
- (2 June 2017). "Varadkar outlines his priorities after winning election".
- (25 March 2024). "Simon Harris rules out early election after taking over as Fine Gael leader". The Irish Times.
- (8 July 2024). "Roderic O'Gorman 'deeply humbled' after being elected new leader of the Green Party". The Irish Times.
- Irish Times. (19 June 2024). ""Micheál Martin names Jack Chambers as Fianna Fáil's deputy leader"". Irish Times.
- (14 January 2024). "Minister of State Jack Chambers announces he is gay". The Irish Times.
- Linehan, Alice. (15 January 2024). "Irish Cabinet minister Jack Chambers comes out as gay".
Wikipedia Source
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Records of members of the Oireachtas — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up free
Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report