Dáil Éireann

Dáil Éireann Assembly of Ireland
32nd Dáil
Type
Type	Lower house of the Oireachtas
Leadership
Ceann Comhairle	Seán Ó Fearghaíl (FF) Since 10 March 2016
Chief Whip	Regina Doherty (FG)
Taoiseach	Enda Kenny (FG)
Leader of the Opposition	Micheál Martin (FF)
Structure
Seats	158
Political groups	Government (57)      Fine Gael (50)      Independent (7) Confidence and supply (43)      Fianna Fáil (43) Other opposition (57)      Sinn Féin (23)      Labour Party (7)      AAA–PBP (6)      I4C (4)      Green Party (2)      Social Democrats (2)      WUA (1)      Independent (12) Ceann Comhairle      Seán Ó Fearghaíl (1)
Elections
Voting system	Single transferable vote
Last election	26 February 2016
Next election	No later than 12 April 2021
Meeting place
Dáil chamber Leinster House, Dublin
Website
www.oireachtas.ie

Government (57)

Confidence and supply (43)

Other opposition (57)

Ceann Comhairle

Dáil Éireann (/dɔɪl ˈɛərən/, dawl aer-ahn; lit. Assembly of Ireland) is the lower house, and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas (Irish legislature), which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann (the upper house). It is directly elected at least once every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (STV). Its powers are similar to those of lower houses under many other bicameral parliamentary systems and it is by far the dominant branch of the Oireachtas. Subject to the limits imposed by the Constitution of Ireland, it has power to pass any law it wishes, and to nominate and remove the Taoiseach (head of government). Since 1922, it has met in Leinster House in Dublin.