IFES Election Guide - Country Profile: Ireland

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Chief of State: President Michael D. HIGGINS
Head of Government: Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda KENNY
Assembly: Ireland has a bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consisting of the Senate (Seanad Éireann) with 60 seats and the House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann) with 166 seats.

The President is elected by a majority system with preferential vote to serve a 7-year term.*
The Prime Minister (Taoiseach) is appointed by the President.
In the Senate (Seanad Éireann), 43 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 5-year terms, 11 members are appointed by the President to serve 5-year terms and 6 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 5-year terms*. In the House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann) 166 members are elected through a single transferable vote (STV) proportional representation system to serve 5-year terms.**

* The presidential term is renewable once. The electoral system is alternative vote. The President is a member of Parliament ex officio.

* 43 members are elected by five panels representing vocational interests. Six are elected by graduates of two colleges.

** One seat is reserved for the Speaker of the House. There are 43 multi-member districts with magnitudes from 3 to 5.