- Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála (IPA2|ˈtʲaxtə ˈdɑːlə) is a member of
Dáil Éireann , the lower chamber of theOireachtas (Parliament) of theRepublic of Ireland . The official translation of Teachta Dála is "Deputy to the Dáil", [cite web|url=http://oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/a-misc/deputy.htm&CatID=107&m=d|title=Deputy to Dáil Éireann - Teachta Dála|accessdate=2007-09-03|publisher=Oireachtas website] a more literal translation is "Assembly Delegate". In English the abbreviation TD is normally used, with TDs as the plural ( _ga. Teachtaí Dála).The term was first used to describe Irish parliamentarians elected in the 1918 general election who, rather than attending the British House of Commons in London, to which they had been elected, assembled instead in
Dublin 's Mansion House to create a new Irish parliament: Dáil Éireann. The term continued to be used after this "First Dáil " and was used to refer to later members of theIrish Republic 's single chamber Dáil Éireann (or "Assembly of Ireland") (1919–1922), members of Dáil Éireann (or "Chamber of Deputies ") of theIrish Free State (1922–1937), and the Dáil Éireann (or the "House of Representatives ") of Ireland.tyle
The initials "TD" are placed after the surname of the elected TD. For example, the current
Taoiseach (head of government) is "Brian Cowen , TD". The style used to refer to individual TDs during debates in Dáil Éireann is the member's name preceded by "Deputy" ( _ga. an Teachta): for example, "Deputy Kenny", "an Teachta Ó Cionnaith".ee also
*
Dáil Éireann
*List of longest-serving members of Dáil Éireann
*List of Irish politicians References
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