- Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach (plural: "Cathaoirligh") is the title of the speaker of
Seanad Éireann , the sixty-member upper house of theOireachtas , the Irish parliament. The current Cathaoirleach is SenatorPat Moylan . The Cathaoirleach is the sole judge of order and has a range of powers and functions namely:*Calls on members to speak and all speeches must be addressed to the Chair.
*Puts such questions to the House as are required, supervises Divisions and declares the results.
*Has authority to suppress disorder, to enforce prompt obedience to Rulings and may order members to withdraw from the House or name them for suspension by the House itself for a period.
*In the case of great disorder can suspend or adjourn the House.The Cathaoirleach's deputy is the "Leas Cathaoirleach". The current Leas Cathaoirleach is
Paddy Burke .The Cathaoirleach is also an ex-officio member of the Presidential Commission, the collective vice-presidency of Ireland.
The term "Cathaoirleach" is also used in a generic sense for chairs of various organisations and local authorities. Many voluntary organisations, associations and clubs also employ this term, for example, Cathaoirleach of the Board of Directors of the Genealogical Society of Ireland. [http://www.familyhistory.ie]
Cathaoirligh of Seanad Éireann
External links
* [http://cathaoirleach.oireachtas.ie/ Official website]
References
ee also
*
Leader of the Seanad
*Ceann Comhairle (speaker of Dáil Éireann)
*Speaker (politics)
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