National
University of Ireland
Seanad
Éireann and convocation ELECTIONs
SEANAD ÉIREANN ELECTIONS, NUI
The Irish
Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, Article 18(4) provides that the National
University of Ireland and Dublin University (Trinity) elect three members of Seanad each. The Constitution was amended in 1979 to allow
for legislation whereby the university constituencies could include other third
level institutions and the election would be "...of so many members of Seanad Éireann as may be fixed by
law in substitution for an equal number of the members to be elected..."
pursuant to Article 18(4)(1) - to date no further
legislation has been_ enacted.
Seanad Elections take place within 90 days of
the dissolution of Dáil Éireann,
and is strictly a postal vote. Presuming that more than three candidates are
nominated, ballot papers are issued to all registered graduates. The current Seanad Éireann Register contains
the names of 96,382 electors.
The current NUI
Senators in Seanad Éireann are:
* Feargal Quinn
* Joseph J. (Joe)
O'Toole
* Rónán Mullen
Registration
"every person who is a citizen of Ireland and has
received a degree (other than an honorary degree) in the National University of
Ireland, and has attained the age of 18 years, shall be entitled to be
registered as an elector in the register of electors for the National
University constituency" (Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act, 1937 s.7(1)).
To be eligible to
vote in the Seanad Election (NUI Constituency), a
graduate's name must be on the NUI Seanad Éireann Register of Electors. Registration Claim Forms are
issued to graduates at time of conferring, but a graduate may reques a form at any time, or download one from www.nui.ie/elections/seanad-register.asp#reg1.
NUI Graduates (who
are otherwise eligible) who return completed Registration Claim Forms to the
NUI Office by 26th February in any given year, will be
listed in the NUI Seanad Éireann Register to be published on 1st June of that year.
NUI CONVOCATION
Convocation of the University consists of the
Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, the Members of Senate, the Professors and
Lecturers of the University, and the graduates of the University.
The Powers of Convocation, as set out below:
a) To elect a person to
be Chancellor of the University in succession to the present or any subsequent
Chancellor;
b) To elect its own
Chairman, who shall, in the absence of the Chancellor, be entitled to preside
at its meetings;
c) To elect eight of its
own Members as its representatives on the Senate (four of whom shall be women
and four men);
d) To discuss and
pronounce an opinion on any matter whatsoever relating to the University,
including any matters referred to it by the Senate;
e) To make from time to
time Regulations for governing its proceedings, subject to the provisions of
the Charter and of the Statutes, and to the Regulations of the University;
f) To make
representations to the Senate on any matter affecting the University.
Convocation Elections
There are two Convocation Elections - the
election of Chancellor of the National University of Ireland and the election
of eight members of the Senate of the National University of Ireland. The
relevant university statutes were revised in 1989 to the effect that any
graduate who wishes to vote in a Convocation election must apply for a voting
paper in writing. (At the time of election, forms are made available to
facilitate graduates who may wish to apply for a vote.) The Election of a
Chancellor takes place when a vacancy arises in the Chancellorship. On the
resignation of Dr. Garret FitzGerald, Dr Maurice Manning
was elected Chancellor of the University at the Election Meeting of Convocation
on 12th March 2009; the election of eight members of the NUI Senate takes place
every five years, and under the provisions of the Universities Act, 1997, must
elect four women and four men. At the Election Meeting in October 2007, the
following persons were elected to the NUI Senate for term of office expiring on
31st October 2012:
Clíona de Bhaldraithe Marsh
Tommy Francis
John Hurley
Maurice Manning (elected Chancellor, 12 March
2009)
Seán Ó Coileáin
Mary O'Riordan
Linda O'Shea Farren
Bernadine O'Sullivan
NUI contact details:
Tel: (01) 439 2424
Fax: (01) 439 2477
E-mail: records@nui.ie
website: www.nui.ie