Constitution of the First Dáil
The Constitution of Dáil Éireann (IBunreacht Dála Éireann) was adopted by the First Dáil at its first meeting on 21 January 1919 and remained in force for four years. As adopted it consisted of only five short articles.
Contents
* 1 Article 1
* 2 Article 2
* 3 Article 3
* 4 Article 4
* 5 Article 5
* 6 Alternative text
o 6.1 First Section
o 6.2 Second Section
o 6.3 Section Three
o 6.4 Section Four
o 6.5 Section Five
* 7 Irish text
o 7.1 AN CHEUD ALT.
o 7.2 AN DARA hALT.
o 7.3 AN TRÍOMHADH ALT.
o 7.4 AN CEATHRAMHADH ALT.
o 7.5 AN CÚIGMHADH ALT.
* 8 See also
* 9 External links
Article 1
All legislative powers shall be vested in Dail Eireann, composing of Deputies, elected by the Irish people from the existing Irish Parliamentary constituencies.
Article 2
(a) All executive powers shall be vested in the members, for the time being, of the Ministry.
(b) The Ministry shall consist of a President of the Ministry, elected by Dail Eireann, and four Executive Officers, viz.;
A Secretary of Finance
A Secretary of Home Affairs
A Secretary of Foreign Affairs
A Secretary of National Defence
each of whom the President shall nominate and have power to dismiss.
(c) Every member of the Ministry shall be a member of Dail Eireann, and shall at all times be responsible to the Dail.
(d) At the first meeting of Dail Eireann after their nomination by the President, the names of the Executive Officers shall be separately submitted to Dail Eireann for approval.
(e) The appointment of the President shall date from his election, and the appointment of each Executive Officer from the date of the approval by the Dail of his nomination.
(f) The Ministry or any member thereof may at any time be removed by vote of the Dail upon motion for that specific purpose, provided that at least seven days notice in writing of that motion shall have been given.
Article 3
A Chairman elected annually by the Dail, and in his absence a Deputy Chairman so elected, shall preside at all meetings of Dail Eireann. Only members of the Dail shall be eligible for these offices. In case of the absence of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman the Dail shall fill the vacancies or elect a temporary Chairman.
Article 4
All monies required by the Ministry shall be obtained on vote of the Dail. The Ministry shall be responsible to the Dail for all monies so obtained, and shall present properly audited accounts for the expenditure of the same -twice yearly- in the months of May and November. The audit shall be conducted by an Auditor or Auditors appointed by the Dail. No member of the Dail shall be eligible for such appointment.
Article 5
This Constitution is provisional and is liable to alteration upon seven days written notice of motion for that specific purpose.
Alternative text
First Section
Dáil Éireann shall possess full powers to legislate and shall be composed of Delegates (Teachtaí) chosen by the people of Ireland from the present constituencies of the country.
Second Section
1. Full executive powers shall be held at any time by the Ministry (Aireacht) in office at the time.
2. The Ministry shall be composed of the following: A Prime Minister (Príomh-Aireach) chosen by Dáil Éireann, and four other Ministers, viz.:
1. Minister of Finance (Aireach Airgid),
2. Minister of Home Affairs (A. Gnóthaí Duthchais),
3. Minister of Foreign Affairs (A. Gnóthaí Coigcríoch)
4. Minister of Defence (A. Cosanta).
The Prime Minister shall nominate the four others, and shall have power to dismiss them from office.
3. Every Minister must be a member of the Dáil, and shall at all times be answerable to the Dáil.
4. The names of Ministers must be put before the Dáil for ratification at the first assembly after their nomination by the Prime Minister.
5. The Prime Minister shall hold office as soon as elected and the other Ministers as soon as their appointment is ratified by the Dáil.
6. The Dáil shall have power by vote to dismiss the Ministry or any of the Ministers from office if a written order in the form of a unanimous resolution be presented for that object seven days previously.
Section Three
Every meeting of the Dáil shall be presided over by a Chairman (Ceann Cómhairle) or Vice-Chairman (Ceann Ionaid) chosen by the Dáil for the year. Should the Chairman and Vice-Chairman be absent, the Dáil shall select substitutes or elect a Provisional Chairman (Ceann Cómhairle Sealadach).
Section Four
The Ministry shall receive whatever money it needs, by vote of the Dáil. The Ministry shall be answerable to the Dáil for such moneys, and the accounts shall be audited with regard to the spending of money for the Dáil twice yearly, viz. at Samhain and Bealtaine (November and May). The auditing shall be carried out by an auditor or auditors chosen by the Dáil. No member of the Dáil shall be chosen as auditor.
Section Five
The present is a provisional constitution, and may be altered on a written unanimous order being given to that effect seven days previously.
Irish text
AN CHEUD ALT.
Beidh iomlán comhachta chun dlighthe dheunamh ag Dáil Éireann agus isé bheidh san Dáil ná teachtaí toghtha ag muintir na hÉireann ó sna dáilcheanntair atá san tír fé láthair.
AN DARA hALT.
1. Beidh iomlán comhachta gnímh éan tráth aca so a bheidh I bhfeadhmannus san Aireacht an tráth soin.
2. Isé bheidh san Aireacht ná Príomh-aireach, toghtha ag Dáil Éireann, agus ceathrar Aireach eile, eadhon:
Aireach Airgid.
Aireach Gnóthaí Dúthchais.
Aireach Gnóthaí Coigcríoch.
Aireach Cosanta
Isé an Príomh-Aireach ainmneochaidh an ceathrar Aireach eile, agus beidh de chomhacht aige iad do chur as feadhmannus.
3. Is éigean do gach Aireach bheith n-a Theachta san Dáil agus beidh sé freagarthach I gcomhnuidhe don Dáil.
4. Is éigean ainmneacha na nAireach do chur fé bhrághaid na Dála ag an gceud thionól taréis don Phríomh-Aireach a n-ainmniughadh, I gcóir a ndeimhnighthe.
5. Beidh an príomh-Aireach I bhfeadhmannus chomh luath is a thoghfar é, agus beidh na hAirigh eile I bhfeadhmannus chomh luath agus a dheimhneóchaidh an Dáil a n-ainmneacha.
6. Is féidir don Dáil an Aireacht nó éan duine desna hAirigh do chur as feadhmhannus le neart bhótaí má chuirtear foláramh rúin fé scríbhinn d’éan toisc chuige sin isteach seacht lá roimh ré.
AN TRÍOMHADH ALT.
Ceann Comhairle toghtha ag an Dáil I naghaidh na bliadhna, nó Ceann Ionaid toghtha I naghaidh na bliadhna, muna mbíonn an Ceann Comhailre I láthair, a bheidh I gceannas gach tionóil den Dáil. Ní bheidh I gceannas infheadhma I gcóir na n-ionad so acht Teachtaí de’n Dáil. Má bhíonn an Ceann Comhairle agus an Ceann Ionaid as láthair, ceapfaidh an Dáil lucht ionaid nó toghfaidh siad Ceann Comhairle sealadach.
AN CEATHRAMHADH ALT.
Gheobhaidh an tAireach pé airgead bheidh uaidh de bhárr bhóta na Dála. Beidh an tAireach freagarthach don Dáil san airgead a gheobhfar mar sin agus leagfaidh sé cúntaisí mionscrúduighthe ar chaitheamh an airgid fé bhrághaid na Dála dhá uair sa bhliadhain – um Shamhain is um Bealtaine. Scrúdaidhe nó Scrúdaidhthe toghtha ag an Dáil a dheunfaidh an mionscrúdadh. Ní féidir éin Teachta den Dáil do thoghadh mar Scrúdaidhe.
AN CÚIGMHADH ALT.
Bunreacht sealadach é seo agus is féidir é d’atharughadh ach foláramh fé scríbhinn do thabhairt d’éan toisc chuige sin, seacht lá roimh ré.