List of addresses to Seanad Éireann


, the upper House of the Oireachtas, has been addressed on occasion by invited non-members. Since 22 May 2001, the Seanad's standing orders allow its Committee on Procedure and Privilege to approve the attendance of an Irish Member of the European Parliament in the house.

In July 2011, S.O.57 was extended to "representatives and persons in public and civic life".
Separately, the CPP can recommend inviting "Distinguished Persons" to address the house; since the late 1990s this has been extended, typically to EU officials.
Senators have also been present alongside TDs at joint sessions of the Seanad and Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas: see list of addresses to the Oireachtas.
Date SeanadSpeakerRoleCountry /
Institution
Notes
Member of the Institute of European AffairsIrelandFormer professor, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cathaoirleach.
Commissioner for TransportEuropean Commission
PresidentEuropean Commission
Commissioner for Health and Consumer PolicyEuropean Commission
PresidentEuropean Parliament
MEP for DublinIrelandInvited under S.O.52A
MEP for Connacht–UlsterIrelandInvited under S.O.52A
PresidentEuropean ParliamentCox was invited as a Distinguished Person, rather than as an MEP under S.O.52A.
MEP for Connacht–UlsterIrelandInvited under S.O.52A
MEP for LeinsterIrelandInvited under S.O.52A
MEP for Connacht–UlsterIrelandInvited under S.O.52A
MEP for LeinsterIrelandInvited under S.O.52A
MEP for MunsterIrelandInvited under S.O.52A
MEP for Northern IrelandEuropean Parliament
Ambassador to the United StatesEuropean UnionFormer Taoiseach
PresidentEuropean Parliament
PresidentEuropean Parliament
President of the Irish Human Rights CommissionIrelandInvited under S.O.57. Chair of the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions; Chancellor of the National University of Ireland; Former Leader of the Seanad
President of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate JusticeIrelandInvited under S.O.57. Former Senator, President of Ireland, and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Address on "the importance of the Seanad in her career as a human rights activist".
Grand secretaryGrand Orange Lodge of IrelandInvited under S.O.57.
Professor of EconomicsLondon School of EconomicsAddress on the topic "Youth Unemployment and Public Policy". Co-laureate of 2010 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
MEP for DublinIrelandInvited under S.O.57
MEP for EastIrelandInvited under S.O.57.
MEP for SouthIrelandInvited under S.O.57.
MEP for DublinIrelandInvited under S.O.57.
MEP for North-WestIrelandInvited under S.O.57.
MEP for SouthIrelandInvited under S.O.57.
MEP for EastIrelandInvited under S.O.57.
MEP for North-WestIrelandInvited under S.O.57.
Commissioner for Research, Innovation and ScienceEuropean Commission
MEP for North-WestIrelandInvited under S.O.57.
Special Representative and head of UN International Strategy for Disaster ReductionUnited NationsInvited under S.O.57.
General SecretaryIrish Congress of Trade UnionsInvited under S.O.57.
ChairpersonConstitutional ConventionInvited under S.O.57.
PresidentParliamentary Assembly of the Council of EuropeInvited as a "Distinguished Person".
Chairperson of the external assessment panelChildren's Rights Alliance report cardInvited under S.O.57. Former Supreme Court justice and president of the Law Reform Commission. Address on ":Category:Children's rights in Ireland|children's rights in Ireland".
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentEuropean Commission Invited as a "Distinguished Person".
Advocate of amnesty for Irish illegal immigrants in the United StatesUnited StatesAddress instigated by Billy Lawless. Topic was "undocumented Irish and immigration reform". Invited under S.O.57.
First MinisterScottish GovernmentInvited as a "Distinguished Person".
Sports broadcasterIrelandInvited under S.O.57. The address, to mark Bliain na Gaeilge was mainly in Irish and partly in English. Responses from senators also mixed the two languages.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentEuropean Commission Invited as a "Distinguished Person".
Lord MayorBelfastInvited under S.O.57.
PresidentGaelic Athletic AssociationInvited under S.O.57. After Horan's initial address, Senators made comments and questions, with Horan giving a final speech in response.