The 13th Seanad was in office from 1973 to 1977. An election to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), followed the 1973 general election to the 20th Dáil. The senators served until the close of poll for the 14th Seanad in 1977.

Cathaoirleach

On 1 June 1973, James Dooge (FG) was proposed for the position of Cathaoirleach by Michael O'Higgins (FG) and seconded by Jack Fitzgerald (FG). He was elected without a division.

On 20 June 1973, Kit Ahern (FF) was proposed for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach by Brian Lenihan (FF) and seconded by Seán Brosnan (FF). She was defeated by a vote of 18 to 31. Evelyn Owens (Lab) was proposed by Jack Fitzgerald (FG) and seconded by Michael Moynihan (Lab). She was elected by a vote of 30 to 18. Mary Robinson (Ind) supported the election of Ahern, but abstained in the vote on Owens.

Composition of the 13th Seanad

There are a total of 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels, 6 were elected from two university constituencies and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach.

The following table shows the composition by party when the 13th Seanad first met on 1 June 1973.

OriginPartyVocational panelsNUIDUNominatedTotal
AdminAgriCult & EducInd & CommLabour
Fianna Fáil4524300018
Fine Gael3523400724
Labour Party0111310411
Independent000112307
Total7115911331160

List of senators

  • Note: The entries for Senators who were elected or appointed to fill vacancies are shown in italics
NamePanelPartyNotes
Seán BrosnanAdministrative PanelFianna FáilElected to the 20th Dáil at a by-election on 13 November 1974
Philip BurtonAdministrative PanelFine Gael
Jack GarrettAdministrative PanelFianna Fáil
Seán KeeganAdministrative PanelFianna Fáil
Thomas KilbrideAdministrative PanelFine Gael
Bernard McGlincheyAdministrative PanelFianna Fáil
Andy O'BrienAdministrative PanelFine Gael
Micheál PrendergastAdministrative PanelFine GaelElected to Seanad at a by-election on 23 April 1975, replacing Seán Brosnan
Bob AylwardAgricultural PanelFianna FáilDied on 18 July 1974
Jack BarrettAgricultural PanelFine Gael
Pierce ButlerAgricultural PanelFine Gael
Bernard CowenAgricultural PanelFianna Fáil
Jack FitzgeraldAgricultural PanelLabour
John MannionAgricultural PanelFine Gael
Joe McCartinAgricultural PanelFine Gael
Patrick McGowanAgricultural PanelFianna Fáil
Cornelius O'CallaghanAgricultural PanelFianna FáilDied on 24 January 1974
William RyanAgricultural PanelFianna Fáil
Liam WhyteAgricultural PanelFine Gael
Pat CoddAgricultural PanelFine GaelElected to Seanad at a by-election on 23 April 1975, succeeding Cornelius O'Callaghan
Michael FerrisAgricultural PanelLabourElected to Seanad at a by-election on 23 April 1975, succeeding Bob Aylward
Kit AhernCultural and Educational PanelFianna Fáil
Billy FoxCultural and Educational PanelFine GaelAssassinated on 12 March 1974
Timothy McAuliffeCultural and Educational PanelLabour
Mary WalshCultural and Educational PanelFine GaelDied on 18 August 1976
Michael YeatsCultural and Educational PanelFianna Fáil
Roddy ConnollyCultural and Educational PanelLabourElected to Seanad at a by-election 23 April 1975, replacing Billy Fox
Vincent McHughCultural and Educational PanelFine GaelElected to Seanad at a by-election on 25 October 1976, replacing Mary Walsh
John J. BrennanIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna Fáil
Fad BrowneIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna Fáil
James DoogeIndustrial and Commercial PanelFine GaelCathaoirleach
Denis FarrellyIndustrial and Commercial PanelFine GaelDied on 27 December 1974
Alexis FitzGeraldIndustrial and Commercial PanelFine Gael
Brian LenihanIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna Fáil
Michael MoynihanIndustrial and Commercial PanelLabour
Ted RussellIndustrial and Commercial PanelIndependent
Eoin RyanIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna Fáil
Jack DalyIndustrial and Commercial PanelFine GaelElected to Seanad at a by-election on 23 April 1975, replacing Denis Farrelly
John BolandLabour PanelFine Gael
Seán BrosnahanLabour PanelIndependent
Séamus DolanLabour PanelFianna Fáil
Des HanafinLabour PanelFianna Fáil
Jack HarteLabour PanelLabour
Fintan KennedyLabour PanelLabour
Mark KillileaLabour PanelFianna Fáil
Michael LyonsLabour PanelFine Gael
Bernard MarkeyLabour PanelFine Gael
William O'BrienLabour PanelFine Gael
Evelyn OwensLabour PanelLabour
John HorganNational University of IrelandLabour
Augustine MartinNational University of IrelandIndependent
Patrick QuinlanNational University of IrelandIndependent
Noël BrowneDublin UniversityIndependent
Mary RobinsonDublin UniversityIndependent
Trevor WestDublin UniversityIndependent
John BlennerhassettNominated by the TaoiseachFine Gael
Austin DeasyNominated by the TaoiseachFine GaelElected to the 21st Dáil at the general election on 16 June 1977
Benjamin GuinnessNominated by the TaoiseachFine Gael
Brendan HalliganNominated by the TaoiseachLabourElected to the 20th Dáil at a by-election on 10 June 1976
Michael D. HigginsNominated by the TaoiseachLabour
Patrick KerriganNominated by the TaoiseachLabourElected to the 21st Dáil at the general election on 16 June 1977
Patrick W. McGrathNominated by the TaoiseachFine Gael
Michael MullenNominated by the TaoiseachLabour
Michael J. O'HigginsNominated by the TaoiseachFine GaelLeader of the Seanad
Paddy O'TooleNominated by the TaoiseachFine GaelElected to the 21st Dáil at the general election on 16 June 1977
James SanfeyNominated by the TaoiseachFine Gael
Ruairi QuinnNominated by the TaoiseachLabourNominated on 1 July 1976, replacing Brendan Halligan Elected to the 21st Dáil at the general election on 16 June 1977
Liam BurkeNominated by the TaoiseachFine GaelNominated on 21 June 1977 to fill vacancy
Martin FinnNominated by the TaoiseachFine GaelNominated on 21 June 1977 to fill vacancy
Frank KingNominated by the TaoiseachLabourNominated on 22 June 1977 to fill vacancy

Changes

DatePanelLossGainNote
24 January 1974Agricultural PanelFianna FáilDeath of Cornelius O'Callaghan
12 March 1974Cultural and Educational PanelFine GaelDeath of Billy Fox
18 July 1974Agricultural PanelFianna FáilDeath of Bob Aylward
13 November 1974Administrative PanelFianna FáilSeán Brosnan elected to the 20th Dáil at a by-election
27 December 1974Industrial and Commercial PanelFine GaelDeath of Denis Farrelly
23 April 1975Administrative PanelFine GaelMicheál Prendergast elected at a by-election to replace Seán Brosnan
23 April 1975Agricultural PanelFine GaelPat Codd elected at a by-election to succeed Cornelius O'Callaghan
23 April 1975Agricultural PanelLabourMichael Ferris elected at a by-election to succeed Bob Aylward
23 April 1975Cultural and Educational PanelLabourRoddy Connolly elected at a by-election to succeed Billy Fox
23 April 1975Industrial and Commercial PanelFine GaelJack Daly elected at a by-election to succeed Denis Farrelly
10 June 1976Nominated by the TaoiseachLabourBrendan Halligan elected to the 20th Dáil at a by-election
1 July 1976Nominated by the TaoiseachLabourRuairi Quinn nominated to succeed Brendan Halligan
18 August 1976Cultural and Educational PanelFine GaelDeath of Mary Walsh
25 October 1976Cultural and Educational PanelFine GaelVincent McHugh elected at a by-election to succeed Mary Walsh
16 June 1977Nominated by the TaoiseachFine GaelAustin Deasy elected to the 21st Dáil at the 1977 general election
16 June 1977Nominated by the TaoiseachLabourPatrick Kerrigan elected to the 21st Dáil at the 1977 general election
16 June 1977Nominated by the TaoiseachFine GaelPaddy O'Toole elected to the 21st Dáil at the 1977 general election
16 June 1977Nominated by the TaoiseachLabourRuairi Quinn elected to the 21st Dáil at the 1977 general election
22 June 1977Nominated by the TaoiseachFine GaelLiam Burke nominated to fill vacancy
22 June 1977Nominated by the TaoiseachFine GaelMartin Finn nominated to fill vacancy
22 June 1977Nominated by the TaoiseachLabourBrendan Halligan nominated to fill vacancy
22 June 1977Nominated by the TaoiseachLabourFrank King nominated to fill vacancy

External links

  • . Oireachtas Members Database.
  • . Oireachtas Debates.