Teachta Dála
Encyclopedia
A Teachta Dála (ˈtʲaxtə ˈdɑːlə), usually abbreviated as TD in English
, is a member of Dáil Éireann
, the lower house
of the Oireachtas
(the Irish Parliament
). It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament
" (MP) or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal translation is "Assembly Delegate". "Teachtaí Dála" is the plural form in Irish
.
on 21 January 1919 to create a new Irish parliament: the First Dáil Éireann
. The term continued to be used after this First Dáil and was used to refer to later members of the Irish Republic
's single chamber Dáil Éireann (or "Assembly of Ireland") (1919–1922), members of the Free State Dáil
(1922–1937), and of the modern Dáil Éireann.
(head of government) is "Enda Kenny
, TD". The style
used to refer to individual TDs during debates in Dáil Éireann is the member's name preceded by Deputy : for example, "Deputy Martin", "an Teachta Ó Máirtín".
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, is a member of Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
, the lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
(the Irish Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
). It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
" (MP) or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal translation is "Assembly Delegate". "Teachtaí Dála" is the plural form in Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
.
History
The term was first used to describe those Irish parliamentarians who were elected at the 1918 general election, and who, rather than attending the British House of Commons in London, to which they had been elected, assembled instead in Dublin's Mansion HouseMansion House, Dublin
The Mansion House on Dawson Street, Dublin, is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715.-Features:The Mansion House's most famous features include the "Round Room", where the First Dáil assembled on 21 January 1919 to proclaim the Irish Declaration of Independence...
on 21 January 1919 to create a new Irish parliament: the First Dáil Éireann
First Dáil
The First Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 1919–1921. In 1919 candidates who had been elected in the Westminster elections of 1918 refused to recognise the Parliament of the United Kingdom and instead assembled as a unicameral, revolutionary parliament called "Dáil Éireann"...
. The term continued to be used after this First Dáil and was used to refer to later members of the Irish Republic
Irish Republic
The Irish Republic was a revolutionary state that declared its independence from Great Britain in January 1919. It established a legislature , a government , a court system and a police force...
's single chamber Dáil Éireann (or "Assembly of Ireland") (1919–1922), members of the Free State Dáil
Dáil Éireann (Irish Free State)
Dáil Éireann served as the directly elected lower house of the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1937. The Free State constitution described the role of the house as that of a "Chamber of Deputies". Until 1936 the Free State Oireachtas also included an upper house known as the Seanad...
(1922–1937), and of the modern Dáil Éireann.
Style
The initials "TD" are placed after the surname of the elected TD. For example, the current TaoiseachTaoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
(head of government) is "Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
, TD". The style
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
used to refer to individual TDs during debates in Dáil Éireann is the member's name preceded by Deputy : for example, "Deputy Martin", "an Teachta Ó Máirtín".
Salaries and expenses
- Basic Salary: €100,191
- Mobile Phone Allowance: A maximum of €750 every 18 months
- Constituency Office maintenance allowance: €8,888.17
- Constituency Travel Allowance: ranging from €2,475 to €8,782 depending on size of constituency
- Daily Allowance: €61.53 for members who live within 24 km of Leinster House
- Miscellaneous expense allowance: €5,489.08
See also
- Members of the 1st DáilMembers of the 1st DáilThis is a list of the 105 MPs who were elected for Irish seats at the 1918 United Kingdom general election. Sinn Féin emerged as the largest party, but refused to attend the British House of Commons in Westminster...
- List of Irish politicians
- Records of members of the Oireachtas