Power And Decision-Making

Question 1

What is the president?

Answer 1

They’re the 1st citizen in the state

Question 2

How long does the president hold office for?

Answer 2

7 years

Question 3

How many times can the president be elected?

Answer 3

Twice

Question 4

Where does the president live?

Answer 4

Aras an Uachtarain in the Pheonix Park in Dublin

Question 5

Where is the job of the president described?

Answer 5

In the constitution

Question 6

What does the president do?

Answer 6

• Give the Taoiseach and Ministers their seals of office
• Sign Bills into law
• Represent Ireland abroad

Question 7

What is the Taoiseach?

Answer 7

The leader of the government

Question 8

What does the Taoiseach do?

Answer 8

They choose the time for a general election, meet with other European leaders and select 11 out of the 60 senators in the Seanad (upper house). They also choose the Ministers

Question 9

How many Ministers are there?

Answer 9

The Constitution says there can be between 7 and 15 Minsters and no more

Question 10

What is the Tanaiste?

Answer 10

They’re next up in line with the Taoiseach and fills in for them when they’re absent

Question 11

What is the Cabinet made out of?

Answer 11

It’s made up out of the Taoiseach, the Tanaiste and all the Ministers

Question 12

What does the Attorney General do?

Answer 12

Advises the government on all legal issues

Question 13

What does the Chief Whip do?

Answer 13

They decide on the Order of Business ( an agenda) for the Dail

Question 14

What does the Ceann Comhairle do?

Answer 14

They’re the chairperson of the Dail and keeps order

Question 15

What is our Constitution called?

Answer 15

It’s called the Bunreacht na hEireann

Question 16

What does the constitution do?

Answer 16

It sets out the type of government we have

Question 17

What is our government called?

Answer 17

The Oireachtas

Question 18

What is the Oireachtas made up of?

Answer 18

• President
• Seanad Eireann
• Dail Eireann

Question 19

What is a Presidential Commission?

Answer 19

When a president is unavailable (or died or resigned), the Presidential Commission takes on their roles

Question 20

What is the Presidential Commission made up of?

Answer 20

It’s made up of the Chief Justice, the Ceann Comhairle of the Dail Eireann and the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Eireann

Question 21

What is the Seanad?

Answer 21

They are 43 elected TD’s, outgoing senators and councillors; 6 of which are elected by graduates of the National University of Ireland and Trinity College called senators

Question 22

What does the Seanad do?

Answer 22

They debate and discuss big issues (they play a big role when new Bills are passed) and can even introduce their own bills too. In the evening, senators might do constituency work or meet local community groups and political organisations

Question 23

Who is Eileen Flynn?

Answer 23

She’s the first person from the Travelling community to have been elected into the Oireachtas and nominated by the Taoiseach to the Seanad

Question 24

Who is the Attorney General?

Answer 24

Rossa Fanning SC

Question 25

Who is the Cheif Whip?

Answer 25

Hildegarde Naughton

Question 26

Who is the Ceann Comhairle?

Answer 26

Séan Ó Fearghaíl