List of addresses to the Oireachtas

Several distinguished leaders have addressed a joint session of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, the two houses of the Oireachtas or parliament of Ireland. The President of Ireland is entitled to make such an address under Article 13.7.1° of the Constitution.[1] T. M. Healy, the first Governor-General of the Irish Free State, made addresses in 1922 and 1923 modelled on the British speech from the throne. Several foreign leaders have been honoured with an invitation to address the Oireachtas, typically during a state visit. A few leaders have also addressed Dáil Éireann sitting alone; those are also listed below. The standing orders of Seanad Éireann more readily allow addresses by non-members: see the list of addresses to Seanad Éireann.

Date (link to text) Assembly Speaker Role Country /
Institution		 Notes
9 May 1919 Dáil (1st)

Frank P. Walsh, Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne, Michael J. Ryan

American Commission on Irish Independence members[2] United States All three members spoke in turn.
11 January 1922 Dáil (2nd) Thomas Johnson Leader of the Labour Party Ireland A labour delegation was received on the floor of the Dáil, led by Johnson and also including Cathal O'Shannon, Thomas Foran, J. T. O'Farrell, Denis Cullen, George Nason, James Carr, and Luke Larkin. After Johnson's speech, O'Shannon spoke briefly in Irish. This was just after Arthur Griffith had been elected President of the Irish Republic after a walkout by the anti-Treaty TDs led by Éamon de Valera
12 December 1922 Dáil (3rd) with Seanad (1st) members present T. M. Healy Governor-General Irish Free State Governor-General's Address six days after the creation of the Irish Free State. Labour Party members boycotted the speech.[3]
3 October 1923 Dáil (4th) with Seanad (1st) members present T. M. Healy Governor-General Irish Free State Governor-General's Address after the 1923 general election
28 June 1963 Joint sitting of 17th Dáil and 10th Seanad John F. Kennedy President United States Kennedy presented the banner of the Irish Brigade under Thomas Francis Meagher flown at the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862. His speech included the famous line, "George Bernard Shaw, speaking as an Irishman, summed up an approach to life: Other peoples, he said, see things and say: 'Why?' ... But I dream things that never were—and I say: 'Why not?' "
21 January 1969 Simultaneous sitting of 18th Dáil and 11th Seanad Éamon de Valera President Ireland Address under Article 13.7, on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the first meeting of the First Dáil. The speech was in Irish.
4 June 1984 Joint sitting of 24th Dáil and 17th Seanad Ronald Reagan President United States Three left-wing TDs — Tony Gregory, Tomás Mac Giolla and Proinsias De Rossa — left the chamber during the proceedings.[4]
21 October 1987 Dáil (25th) Bob Hawke Prime Minister Australia
26 February 1988 Joint sitting of 25th Dáil and 18th Seanad François Mitterrand President France The speech was in French.
2 July 1990 Dáil (26th) Nelson Mandela Deputy Leader of the African National Congress South Africa Several months after his release from prison, and early in the negotiated end to apartheid.
8 July 1992 Joint sitting of 26th Dáil and 19th Seanad Mary Robinson President Ireland Address under Article 13.7, on the topic "the Irish Identity in Europe".[5]
20 September 1993 Dáil (27th) Paul Keating Prime Minister Australia
2 February 1995 Joint sitting of 27th Dáil and 20th Seanad Mary Robinson President Ireland Address under Article 13.7 on the topic "Cherishing the Irish Diaspora"[6]
1 December 1995 Joint sitting of 27th Dáil and 20th Seanad Bill Clinton President United States Address made at an early stage in the Northern Ireland peace process
2 October 1996 Dáil (27th) Helmut Kohl Chancellor Germany The speech was in German.
26 November 1998 Joint sitting of 28th Dáil and 21st Seanad Tony Blair Prime Minister United Kingdom Address made after the Belfast Agreement.
16 December 1999 Joint sitting of 28th Dáil and 21st Seanad Mary McAleese President Ireland Address under Article 13.7 to mark the millennium.[7]
23 May 2006 Dáil (29th) John Howard Prime Minister Australia
4 October 2012 Dáil (31st) Martin Schulz President European Parliament [8]
11 May 2017 31st Dáil and 25th Seanad sitting in joint committee of the whole Michel Barnier Chief Negotiator on Brexit European Commission Described as an "exchange of views" with Barnier rather than an address by him.[9]
21 June 2018 Joint sitting of 31st Dáil and 25th Seanad Jean-Claude Juncker President European Commission [10]

On 28 April 1949, Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, was received on the floor of the Dáil; he did not make a speech.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Constitution of Ireland". Irish Statute Book. Attorney General of Ireland. p. Article 13.7.1°.
  2. ↑ Carty, James (2012-03-30). Bibliography of Irish History 1912-1921. Andrews UK Limited. p. 118. ISBN 9781781514832. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  3. ↑ Macardle, Dorothy (1951). The Irish Republic; a Documented Chronicle of the Anglo-Irish Conflict and the Partitioning of Ireland, with a Detailed Account of the Period 1916-1923. Éamon De Valéra (preface) (4th ed.). Dublin: Irish Press. p. 821. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Hanley, Brian. "Gregory, Tony". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 5 December 2015. (Subscription required (help)).
  5. ↑ 29 June 1992 - Address to the Houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament) Office of the President
  6. ↑ 24 January 1995 - Address to the Houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament) Office of the President
  7. ↑ "28th October 1999 - Address to the Houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament)". Office of the President. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  8. ↑ Dáil debates 27 September 2012, p.9
  9. ↑ "Exchange of views with Mr. Michel Barnier: Motion". Dáil Éireann Debates. Oireachtas. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  10. ↑ Lehane, Mícheál (21 June 2018). "Juncker to address both houses of the Oireachtas". RTE.ie. Retrieved 21 June 2018. ;"Exchange of Views with President of the European Commission: Motion". Dáil debates. KildareStreet.com. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018. ;"Joint Sitting of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann: Motion". Seanad debates. KildareStreet.com. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  11. ↑ "Reception of Prime Minister of India". Oireachtas. 28 April 1949. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
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