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National University of Ireland (NUI) is a university constituency in Ireland, which elects three senators to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (the legislature of Ireland). Its electorate is the graduates of the university, which has a number of constituent universities. It previously elected members to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom (1918–1921), to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland (1921) and to Dáil Éireann (1922–1937).

Representation

House of Commons of the United Kingdom

Under the Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918, NUI was enfranchised as a new university constituency and continued to be entitled to be represented by one Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons until the dissolution of Parliament on 26 October 1922, shortly before the Irish Free State became a dominion outside the United Kingdom on 6 December 1922. In 1918 the electorate included all registered male graduates over 21 (or over 19 if in the armed services) and all female graduates over 30. There were 3,819 voters registered for the 1918 general election. Most, if not all, of those electors would have been plural voters also entitled to vote in a territorial constituency. The 1918 general election took place on 14 December and the results were declared on 28 December, except for the university constituencies. NUI voted between 18 and 22 December and the result was declared on 23 December. Eoin MacNeill was elected (and also for Londonderry City) standing for Sinn Féin and therefore did not take his seat in Westminster, instead serving as a member of the first Dáil Éireann.

House of Commons of Southern Ireland

The Government of Ireland Act 1920 established a devolved home rule legislature, within the United Kingdom, for twenty-six Irish counties which were designated Southern Ireland. NUI was given four seats in the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. At the 1921 Southern Ireland House of Commons election, all 128 seats were elected unopposed. Of these, 124 were Sinn Féin members, who formed the TDs of the Second Dáil. This included the four representatives of the NUI.

The Parliament was dissolved as part of the arrangements under the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1922.

Dáil Éireann

In the 1918 general election, Sinn Féin contested the election on the basis that they would not take seats in the United Kingdom Parliament but would establish a revolutionary assembly in Dublin.

The university was, in Irish republican theory, entitled to return one Teachta Dála (known in English as a Deputy) in 1918 to serve in the Irish Republic's First Dáil. This revolutionary body assembled on 21 January 1919. In republican theory every MP elected in Ireland was a member of the First Dáil. In practice only Sinn Féin members participated, including the Deputy for the university.

In May 1921, elections were held to the parliaments established under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Sinn Féin had decided to use the polls for the House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland together as an election for the Irish Republic's Second Dáil. At the last meeting of the First Dáil on 10 May 1921, it passed a motion, the first three parts of which expressed this constitutional position.

1. That the parliamentary elections which are to take place during the present month be regarded as elections to Dáil Éireann.
2. That all deputies duly returned at these elections be regarded as members of Dáil Éireann and allowed to take their seats on subscribing to the proposed Oath of Allegiance.
3. That the present Dáil dissolve automatically as soon as the new body has been summoned by the President and called to order.

No voting occurred in Southern Ireland as all the seats were filled by unopposed returns. Except for Dublin University all constituencies outside Northern Ireland elected Sinn Féin TDs. The Second Dáil first met on 16 August 1921, thereby dissolving the First Dáil. The Third Dáil was also elected under the constituencies established by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. On 6 December 1922, this became the house of representatives of the new Irish Free State.

From the Electoral Act 1923 the Irish Free State defined its own Dáil constituencies. National University of Ireland was reduced to three seats. This Act abolished plural voting for University constituencies and enfranchised women on the same terms as men. Qualified voters could register for a university or a territorial constituency but not for both. The qualifications for an elector to be registered as a university voter were set out in Section 1(2)(c) of the 1923 Act. They were to be registered at "the University constituency comprising a university in which he or she has received a degree other than an honorary degree".

The Constitution (Amendment No. 23) Act 1936 repealed provisions of the Constitution of the Irish Free State providing for University representation in Dáil Éireann, with effect from the next dissolution of the Oireachtas which took place on 14 June 1937. The seat left vacant by Conor Maguire in 1936 on his appointment to the High Court was not filled.

TDs

Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.

1. Michael Hayes served as Ceann Comhairle from 9 September 1922 to 29 January 1932.

Seanad Éireann

Article 18.4 of the Constitution of Ireland adopted in 1937, provided that the National University of Ireland would have three seats in the new Seanad Éireann. The Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 gave effect to this constitutional provision, with graduates of the National University of Ireland entitled to elect Senators by single transferable vote. The first Seanad election took place in 1938, and thereafter elections to the Seanad take place within 90 days of the dissolution of the Dáil. The Seventh Amendment, adopted in 1979, allows for a redistribution of the six university seats among the Dublin University, the National University of Ireland, and any other institutions of higher education in the State which do not have representation. The establishment of separate universities from the NUI Colleges was under consideration in the late 1970s, and the Seventh Amendment was introduced so that the reference to the NUI in the Constitution would not inhibit any reforms and graduates of NUI and ex-NUI institutions could elect senators. Ultimately the NUI was not abolished (but reformed to be a federal institution).

Graduates who are Irish citizens are required to register to vote and the election is conducted by postal vote. There is no residency requirement for voters, so those living abroad can participate. Political party labels do not appear on Seanad election ballot papers.

Under the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Act 2024, the 2025 Seanad election to the 27th Seanad will be the last general election for the National University constituency and the Dublin University constituency. Polls for this election will close on 29 January 2025. At Seanad general elections held after 31 March 2025, they will be substituted by a new six-seat Higher Education constituency, enfranchising graduates from all institutions of higher education recognised under the Higher Education Act 2022. If a vacancy occurs during the 27th Seanad in the National University constituency, the electorate will be NUI graduates on the Higher Education constituency register of electors.

Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns.

Elections

2025 election

2020 election

2016 election

2011 election

2007 election

2002 election

1997 election

1992 election

1989 election

1933 election

• Seat vacant in November 1936 on appointment of Maguire as a Justice of the High Court

1932 election

1. As outgoing Ceann Comhairle, Hayes was returned automatically under s. 2 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1927.

September 1927 election

1. As outgoing Ceann Comhairle, Hayes was returned automatically under s. 2 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1927. He was elected again as Ceann Comhairle on 11 October 1927, leaving the Cumann na nGaedheal parliamentary party.

June 1927 election

1. As outgoing Ceann Comhairle, Hayes was returned automatically under s. 2 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1927. He was elected again as Ceann Comhairle on 23 June 1927, leaving the Cumann na nGaedheal parliamentary party.

1923 by-election

Caused by the resignation of Eoin MacNeill.

1923 election

1. MacNeill also stood successfully for Clare and chose to sit for that constituency.
2. Hayes also stood successfully for Dublin South but vacated that seat. He was elected as Ceann Comhairle on 9 September 1923, leaving the Cumann na nGaedheal parliamentary party.

1922 election

1921 election

Sinn Féin refused to recognise the Southern Ireland House of Commons and took their seats as TDs in the Second Dáil. The NUI registrar reported an expenditure of £28 14s on the election.

1918 election

The 1918 general election took place on 14 December and the results were declared on 28 December, except for the university constituencies. NUI voted between 18 and 22 December and the result was declared on 23 December.

In common with other Sinn Féin MPs, Eoin MacNeill abstained from Westminster and took his seat as a TD in the First Dáil. He was also elected for Londonderry City.

See also

• List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland
• List of MPs elected in the 1918 United Kingdom general election
• Historic Dáil constituencies
• Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic)
• Dublin University (constituency)
• Queen's University of Belfast (UK Parliament constituency)

References

1. "Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 10 May 1921 - PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT. - ELECTIONS". Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
2. "Electoral Act 1923, Section 1 - Dáil Franchise". Irish Statute Book. 17 April 1923. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
3. "Minister O'Brien makes Orders appointing dates and times for Seanad Éireann general election". Government of Ireland (Press release). Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 15 November 2024.
4. "19 Candidates Nominated to Contest Seanad Éireann Election in the NUI Constituency". National University of Ireland. 6 December 2024.
5. "Seanad Éireann Election 2020 Key Dates". National University of Ireland. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
6. "19 Candidates Nominated to Contest Seanad Éireann Election in the NUI Constituency". National University of Ireland. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
7. "Result of Election and Transfer of Votes. Seanad Éireann Election Held on 26th April 2016. Constituency of: National University of Ireland" (PDF). National University of Ireland. 27 April 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
8. "Seanad General Election, April 2011, National University of Ireland Panel". Houses of the Oireachtas. 28 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
9. "Seanad election 2007: National University of Ireland". Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
10. "Seanad election 2002: National University of Ireland". Retrieved 28 September 2022.
11. "Seanad election 1997: National University of Ireland". Retrieved 28 September 2022.
12. "Seanad election 1992: National University of Ireland". Retrieved 28 September 2022.
13. Mortell, Michael (17 August 1989). "Result of the election and transfer of votes National University of Ireland" (PDF). National University of Ireland. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
14. "General election 1933: National University of Ireland". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
15. ^ Gallagher, Michael (1993). Irish Elections 1922-44: Results and Analysis. PSAI Press. ISBN 0951974815.
16. "General election 1932: National University of Ireland". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
17. "General election September 1927: National University of Ireland". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
18. "Election of Ceann Comhairle". Dáil Debates – Vol. 21 No. 1. 11 October 1927. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
19. "General election June 1927: National University of Ireland". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
20. Constitution (Amendment No. 2) Act 1927, s. 1: Re-election at general election of outgoing Chairman of Dáil Eireann (No. 6 of 1927, s. 1). Enacted on 19 March 1927. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 April 2021.
21. Electoral (Amendment) Act 1927, s. 2: Re-election of outgoing Ceann Comhairle (No. 21 of 1927, s. 2). Enacted on 22 May 1927. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
22. "Election of Ceann Comhairle". Dáil Debates – Vol. 20 No. 1. 23 June 1927. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
23. "By-election 1923: National University of Ireland". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
24. "General election 1923: National University of Ireland". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
25. "Resignation". Dáil Debates – Vol. 5 No. 4. 3 October 1923. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
26. "Fógra ó Theachta". Dáil Debates – Vol. 5 No. 1. 19 September 1923. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
27. "Election of Ceann Comhairle". Dáil Debates – Vol. 5 No. 1. 19 September 1923. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
28. "General election 1922: National University of Ireland". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
29. "General election 1921: National University of Ireland". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
30. Wiber, Fred. H. (27 February 1922). "The National University of Ireland; Account of Income and Expenditure for the Year ended 31 July 1921.". Accounts of Receipts and Expenditure of Universities and Colleges, Ireland, for the year ended 31 July 1921; together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon. Parliamentary Papers. Vol. HC 1922 XVII (28) 23. London: HMSO. p. 1. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
31. "General election 1918: National University of Ireland". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.

Sources

• Walker, Brian M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. p. 395. ISBN 0901714127.

v t e Seanad Éireann
Positions	Cathaoirleach Leader of the Seanad
Members	Vocational panels (43) Administrative (7) Agricultural (11) Cultural and Educational (5) Industrial and Commercial (9) Labour (11) University constituencies (6) Dublin University (3) National University (3) Higher Education (6) (Future) Other members (11) Nominated members
Predecessors	Irish House of Lords Senate of Southern Ireland Seanad Éireann (Irish Free State)
Elections	General 1925 1928 1931 1938 (April) 1938 (September) 1943 1944 1948 1951 1954 1957 1961 1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 1982 1983 1987 1989 1993 1997 2002 2007 2011 2016 2020 2025 By-elections 2014 b 2021 b 2022 U Dublin b 2024 b
Referendums	University representation (1979) Abolition proposal (2013)
Other	Addresses Women

• National University of Ireland
• Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1922
• Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1918
• University constituencies in the Republic of Ireland
• University constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Seanad constituencies