April 2016

Government in Ireland
"If there's
anyone out
there who still
doubts that
Ireland is a
place where all
things are
possible, who
still wonders if
the dream of
our ancestors is
alive in our
time, who still
questions our
capacity to
restore
ourselves,
reinvent
ourselves and
prosper, today
is your
answer."-Enda
Kenny, from his
public address
during a visit
from U.S.
President
Obama.

Ireland has a parliamentary democracy. Parliamentary democracy is defined by

the Britannica Encyclopedia as a democratic form of government in which a party
or a coalition of parties, with the greatest representation in the parliament
(legislature) forms the government and its leader becoming prime minister or
chancellor.

(Left) Taoiseach Enda Kenny and (Right) Tnaiste Joan Burton.

The Head of Government is lead by the Taoiseach, or Prime Minister along with
the Tnaiste, or the Deputy Prime Minister. Their Parliament is called the
Oireachtas. In the Irish Parliament there are two houses, The House of
Representatives known as Dil ireann and the Senate, known as Seanad ireann.
The Dil is composed of 166 members otherwise known as Teachta Dla (TD).
The Seanad is composed of 60 members.

Pictured above is The house of Oireachtas.