The Cathaoirleach ( ; Irish for chairperson; plural: Cathaoirligh) is the chair (or presiding officer) of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The Cathaoirleach's deputy is the Leas-Chathaoirleach.
Mark Daly, a Fianna Fáil senator, has held the office of Cathaoirleach since 12 February 2025.
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Powers and functions
The Cathaoirleach is the sole judge of order, and has a range of powers and functions, namely:
Calls on members to speak and all speeches must be addressed to the Chair.
Puts such questions to the House as are required, supervises Divisions and declares the results.
Has authority to suppress disorder, to enforce prompt obedience to Rulings and may order members to withdraw from the House or name them for suspension by the House itself for a period.
In the case of great disorder can suspend or adjourn the House.
The Cathaoirleach is also an ex officio member of the Council of State, which advises the president of Ireland in the exercise of their discretionary powers, and of the Presidential Commission, which performs the powers and functions of the office of president in their absence.
Seanad of the Irish Free State
The Seanad Éireann of the Irish Free State elected a new Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach after each triennial election. Its last sitting was held on 19 May 1936. The Seanad was abolished on 29 May 1936. The election for the new Seanad, set up in accordance with the 1937 Constitution of Ireland, was held on 28 March 1938, and its sitting was held on 27 April 1938.
List of office-holders
Leas-Chathaoirleach
The Leas-Chathaoirleach is the deputy chair of the Seanad.