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List of addresses to the Oireachtas

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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. Tim 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. The Official Report of Dáil and Seanad proceedings takes special care when recording such events and the transcript of speeches may be supplemented with description of ancillary actions. 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 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 United States All three members spoke in turn.
1 October 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 Dáil Éireann after a walkout by the anti-Treaty TDs led by Éamon de Valera
12 December 1922 Dáil (3rd) with Seanad (1st) members present Tim 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 October 1923 Dáil (4th) with Seanad (1st) members present Tim 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 at the Mansion House 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. Joe Clarke interrupted the speech to protest at the arrest of Dennis Dennehy.
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.
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".
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 titled "Cherishing the Irish Diaspora"
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.
23 May 2006 Dáil (29th) John Howard Prime Minister Australia
4 October 2012 Dáil (31st) Martin Schulz President European Parliament
11 May 2017 32nd 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.
21 June 2018 Joint sitting of 32nd Dáil and 25th Seanad Jean-Claude Juncker President European Commission
6 April 2022 Joint sitting of 33rd Dáil and 26th Seanad Volodymyr Zelenskyy President Ukraine First address by video link. One of many addresses by Zelenskyy to legislatures seeking support after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
1 December 2022 Joint sitting of 33rd Dáil and 26th Seanad Ursula von der Leyen President European Commission Marking the 50th anniversary of Ireland's EU accession.
13 April 2023 Joint sitting of 33rd Dáil and 26th Seanad Joe Biden President United States 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. People Before Profit members boycotted the speech.

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.

On 21 January 2019, a programme of events in the Mansion House, to mark the centenary of the First Dáil, included an address by President Michael D. Higgins and a joint sitting of the 32nd Dáil and 25th Seanad; however, the address was not formally part of the joint sitting.

On 18 April 2019, Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, addressed current and former members of the Oireachtas, but not at a formal sitting of the Dáil or Seanad.

See also

References

  1. "Constitution of Ireland". Irish Statute Book. Attorney General of Ireland. p. Article 13.7.1°.
  2. "Reporting of foreign dignitaries and Presidents". Dáil100. Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  3. "ORAIDEANNA LUCHT AN CHOIMISIUIN – Dáil Éireann (1st Dáil) – Friday, 9 May 1919". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. Carty, James (2012). Bibliography of Irish History 1912-1921. Andrews UK Limited. p. 118. ISBN 9781781514832.
  5. "LABOUR DEPUTATION RECEIVED – Dáil Éireann (2nd Dáil) – Tuesday, 10 January 1922". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  6. "Address by Governor General to Dáil Éireann - 12 December, 1922 - Tithe an Oireachtais". Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  7. 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.
  8. "Address by Governor General to Dáil Éireann - 3 Oct 1923 - Tithe an Oireachtais". Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  9. "Address by President Kennedy – Seanad Éireann (10th Seanad) – Friday, 28 June 1963". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  10. "Aitheasc ón Uachtarán don dá Theach ar ócáid an Chuimhnithe ar Chomhaireamh Caoga Bliain ó Chéad-Tionól an Chéad Dáil Éireann 21 Eanáir 1919 – Dáil Éireann (18th Dáil) – Tuesday, 21 January 1969". Oireachtas (in Irish). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. "50th Anniversary of the First Dáil". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  12. "ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT REAGAN – Dáil Éireann (24th Dáil) – Monday, 4 June 1984". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  13. Hanley, Brian. "Gregory, Tony". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  14. "ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA – Dáil Éireann (25th Dáil) – Wednesday, 21 October 1987". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  15. "ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT MITTERRAND – Dáil Éireann (25th Dáil) – Friday, 26 February 1988". Oireachtas (in French). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  16. "ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT MITTERRAND – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Monday, 2 July 1990". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  17. "Address by Uachtarán na hÉireann to the Joint Houses of the Oireachtas – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Wednesday, 8 July 1992". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  18. "Address to the Houses of the Oireachtas on a Matter of National Importance Irish Indentity [sic] in Europe". President of Ireland. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  19. "ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Monday, 20 September 1993". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  20. "Address by Uachtarán na hÉireann to Joint Houses of the Oireachtas – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Thursday, 2 February 1995". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  21. ""Cherishing the Irish Diaspora" Address to Houses of the Oireachtas on a Matter of Public Importance". President of Ireland. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  22. "ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT CLINTON – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Friday, 1 December 1995". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  23. "Address of Chancellor Kohl – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Wednesday, 2 October 1996". Oireachtas (in German). Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  24. "Address by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Thursday, 26 November 1998". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  25. "Address by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – Seanad Éireann (21st Seanad) – Thursday, 26 November 1998". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  26. "Address of President McAleese – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Thursday, 16 December 1999". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  27. "Address of President McAleese – Seanad Éireann (21st Seanad) – Thursday, 16 December 1999". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  28. "Address to the Houses of the Oireachtas Ireland's Lifting Shadows". President of Ireland. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  29. "Address by Prime Minister of Australia – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Tuesday, 23 May 2006". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  30. "Address by H.E. Mr. Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Thursday, 4 October 2012". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  31. "Exchange of views with Mr. Michel Barnier, Chief Negotiator of the Taskforce for the Preparation and Conduct of Negotiations with the United Kingdom – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) – Thursday, 11 May 2017". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.; "Exchange of views with Mr. Michel Barnier, Chief Negotiator of the Taskforce for the Preparation and Conduct of Negotiations with the United Kingdom – Seanad Éireann (25th Seanad) – Thursday, 11 May 2017". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  32. "Address by Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) – Thursday, 21 June 2018". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.; "Address by Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission – Seanad Éireann (25th Seanad) – Thursday, 21 June 2018". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  33. Lehane, Mícheál (21 June 2018). "Juncker to address both houses of the Oireachtas". RTE.ie. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  34. "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.
  35. "Address by H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine". Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) debates. Oireachtas. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  36. "Zelenskiy due to address Dáil and Seanad by video on April 6th". The Irish Times. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  38. "Zelensky: Ireland has not remained neutral to the war in Ukraine". RTÉ News. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  39. "Address by H.E. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission". Oireachtas. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  40. "Address by Mr. Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America". Oireachtas. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  42. "Reception of Prime Minister of India – Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) – Thursday, 28 April 1949". Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  43. ^ Lord, Miriam (22 January 2019). "Gas light, relics and rare parliamentary action in the Mansion House". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  44. "President Gives Keynote Address at the Centenary Commemoration of the 1st Dail". Office of the President of Ireland. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  45. ^ "Table of contents: Mon, 21 Jan 2019". Seanad Éireann (25th Seanad). Houses of the Oireachtas. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  46. Finn, Christina (10 April 2019). "US politician Nancy Pelosi to address the Dáil next week". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
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