Question Time in Dail Eireann

Information

TDs (Irish members of Parliament) may ask members of the Irish Government questions every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that the Dáil is sitting.

The questions relate to public affairs connected with a particular Minister's Department or any administration issue that a Minister is officially responsible for.

The Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) answers questions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. The other members of the Government take turns to answer questions - the rota repeats itself every 5 weeks. This means that TDs have a chance to question all the ministers on a regular basis. View examples of oral questions put to the Taoiseach here (pdf).

TDs are limited to asking each Minister 2 oral questions. Every day, 5 oral questions are given priority. The priority questions are shared between the parties according to party strength. View an example of an oral parliamentary question here.

As well as oral questions in Question Time, TDs can submit written questions seeking a written answer. There is no limit to the amount of written questions that a TD can ask the Government. View an example of a written parliamentary question here.

The member of the Government must be given 4 days notice for oral questions and 3 days notice for written and priority questions. Sometimes a very urgent matter of public importance will suddenly arise. The Ceann Comhairle may accept questions about an urgent issue at very short notice. These questions are called "Private Notice Questions" and are taken at the end of Question Time.