How the Dáil works
Short, plain explainers of what goes on in Dáil Éireann: who sits there, how laws are made, how votes are taken and how TDs put questions to ministers. Each one points to real examples in this archive, and to the official guidance it is based on.
The Dáil at a glance
Who the TDs are and how they are elected, who chairs the chamber, who is in the Government, and what a sitting week looks like.
How a bill becomes law
From a first draft to an Act: the five stages in each House, what the Seanad can and cannot do, and the President's part.
How votes work
What happens when the Chair says "the question is", why a vote is called a division, and how to read a result.
How questions work
Oral and written questions, Leaders' Questions, Topical Issues and the deadlines behind them.
Glossary
The words you will meet in the record, from Ceann Comhairle to whip, each in a sentence.
About this archive
Where the record comes from, how it is kept, and how the counts on this site are worked out. 71,612 contributions and 121,719 questions so far.