Contact Details

Séamus Pattison T.D.
Séamus Mac Pháidín

Ceann Comhairle

Chairman
of
Dáil Éireann

Private Secretary: Breda Burke

E-mail: Ceann.Comhairle@Oireachtas.irlgov.ie

Career

Séamus Pattison T.D. was unanimously elected Ceann Comhairle at the first meeting of the 28th Dáil on 26 June 1997.

Full time public representative, formerly trade union official.

Member of:

• The European Parliament (July 1981 - December 1983)
• Kilkenny Corporation (1964-97), Alderman (1967-97)
• Kilkenny County Council (1964-97)
• Dáil Éireann since 1961 (also the longest serving Member of the Dáil, or "Father of the House")
• The ITGWU (Irish Transport and General Workers Union) now SIPTU (Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union) since 1958
• The Labour Party since 1952

Positions Held as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann

Chairman of:

• The Civil Service Commission
• The Local Appointments Commission
• Comhairle na Míre Gaile (Deeds of Bravery Council)
• The Committee on Procedure and Privileges of Dáil Éireann
• The Irish Parliamentary Association
• The Public Offices Commission

Member of:

• The Presidential Commission
• The Council of State
• The Conference of Presidents of European Parliamentary Assemblies
• The Electoral Appeal Board

Positions Held as Member of the Kilkenny Local Authorities

Elected:

• Mayor of Kilkenny City (1967, 1976, 1992)
• Chairman of Kilkenny County Council (1975 and 1980)

Member of :

• County Kilkenny Vocational Education Committee (1964-97) and vice-Chairman (1990-97)
• South Eastern Health Board (1971-85)
• Kilkenny County Development Committee (1965-85)

Positions Held as Member of Dáil Éireann

Labour Party spokesman on:

• Justice (1991-92)
• Energy and Forestry (1989-91)
• Defence and Marine (1987-88)

Minister of State, Department of Social Welfare (1983-87)

Labour Party spokesman on:

• Lands (1972-73)
• Justice (1967-72 )
• Education (1963-67)

• Member of British-Irish Interparliamentary Body (1993-97)
• Chairman of Dáil Select Committee on Social Affairs (1993-97)
• Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and its Committees on Social and Legal Affairs (1989/1990 and 1995-97)
• Temporary Chairman of Dáil Éireann (1973-77 and 1987-97)
• Member of the Dáil Committee of Public Accounts (1972-77)

Positions Held as Member of the European Parliament

• Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment
• Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Youth, Culture, Education and Sport
• Member of the Committee on Energy, Research and Technology