17th Seanad

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title: "17th Seanad" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["members-of-the-17th-seanad", "lists-of-members-of-seanad-éireann-by-term"] description: "Members of the Seanad from 1983 to 1987" topic_path: "general/members-of-the-17th-seanad" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Seanad" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Members of the Seanad from 1983 to 1987 ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox legislative term"]

Field	Value
name	17th Seanad
image	Oireachtas logo.svg
image_size	100px
body	Seanad Éireann
country	Ireland
meeting_place	Leinster House
term_start	23 February 1983
term_end	3 April 1987
before	16th Seanad
after	18th Seanad
membership1	60
chamber1_leader1_type	Cathaoirleach
chamber1_leader1	Patrick J. Reynolds (FG)
chamber1_leader2_type	Leas-Chathaoirleach
chamber1_leader2	Tras Honan (FF)
chamber1_leader3_type	[Leader of the
Seanad](leader-of-the-seanad)
chamber1_leader3	James Dooge
government	17th government
::

|name = 17th Seanad |image = Oireachtas logo.svg |image_size = 100px |body = Seanad Éireann |country = Ireland |meeting_place = Leinster House |term_start = 23 February 1983 |term_end = 3 April 1987 |before = 16th Seanad |after = 18th Seanad |membership1 = 60 |chamber1_leader1_type = Cathaoirleach |chamber1_leader1 = Patrick J. Reynolds (FG) |chamber1_leader2_type = Leas-Chathaoirleach |chamber1_leader2 = Tras Honan (FF) |chamber1_leader3_type = Leader of the Seanad |chamber1_leader3 = James Dooge |government = 17th government The 17th Seanad was in office from 1983 to 1987. An election to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), followed the November 1982 general election to the 24th Dáil. The senators served until the close of poll for the 18th Seanad.

Cathaoirleach

On 23 February 1983, Patrick J. Reynolds (FG) was proposed as Cathaoirleach by James Dooge (FG) and seconded by Seán O'Leary (FG). He was elected without a division.

On 9 March 1983, Tras Honan (FF) was proposed as Leas-Chathaoirleach by Mick Lanigan (FF) and seconded by Thomas Hussey (FF). She was elected without a division.

Composition of the 17th 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 17th Seanad first met on 23 February 1983.

::data[format=table] | Party|Origin}} | Vocational panels | NUI | DU | Nominated | Total | Admin | Agri | Cult & Educ | Ind & Comm | Labour | Total | 7 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 60 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Fine Gael}}" | | Fine Gael | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 25 | Fine Gael}}" | | | | | | | | | | | | Fianna Fáil}}" | | Fianna Fáil | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | Fianna Fáil}}" | | | | | | | | | | | | Labour Party (Ireland)}}" | | Labour Party | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | Labour Party (Ireland)}}" | | | | | | | | | | | | Independent politician (Ireland)}}" | | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | Independent politician (Ireland)}}" | | | | | | | | | | | ::

List of senators

| firstname = Luke | lastname = Belton | articlename = | panel = Administrative Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Katharine | lastname = Bulbulia | articlename = | panel = Administrative Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Tras | lastname = Honan | articlename = | panel = Administrative Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes =

| firstname = Patrick | lastname = Kennedy | articlename = Patrick Kennedy (Limerick politician) | panel = Administrative Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Michael | lastname = Lynch | articlename = Michael Lynch (Irish politician) | panel = Administrative Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = Elected to the 25th Dáil at the general election on 17 February 1987 | firstname = Martin | lastname = O'Donoghue | articlename = | panel = Administrative Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Flor | lastname = O'Mahony | articlename = | panel = Administrative Panel | party = Labour Party (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Ulick | lastname = Burke | articlename = Ulick Burke (politician) | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = John | lastname = Ellis | articlename = John Ellis (Fianna Fáil politician) | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = Elected to the 25th Dáil at the general election on 17 February 1987

| firstname = Michael | lastname = Ferris | articlename = Michael Ferris (politician) | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Labour Party (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Richard | lastname = Hourigan | articlename = | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Thomas | lastname = Hussey | articlename = Thomas Hussey (Irish politician) | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Rory | lastname = Kiely | articlename = | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Joseph | lastname = Lennon | articlename = | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Charles | lastname = McDonald | articlename = Charles McDonald (Irish politician) | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Martin | lastname = O'Toole | articlename = | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Michael | lastname = Quealy | articlename = | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = William | lastname = Ryan | articlename = William Ryan (Irish politician) | panel = Agricultural Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Séamus | lastname = de Brún | articlename = | panel = Cultural and Educational Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Brian | lastname = Fleming | articlename = | panel = Cultural and Educational Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Joachim | lastname = Loughrey | articlename = | panel = Cultural and Educational Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Helena | lastname = McAuliffe-Ennis | articlename = | panel = Cultural and Educational Panel | party = Labour Party (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = Joined the Progressive Democrats in 1986 | firstname = Michael | lastname = Smith | articlename = Michael Smith (Irish politician) | panel = Cultural and Educational Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = Elected to the 25th Dáil at the general election on 17 February 1987 | firstname = Timmy | lastname = Conway | articlename = | panel = Industrial and Commercial Panel | party = Labour Party (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = Joined the Progressive Democrats in 1986 | firstname = Jack | lastname = Daly | articlename = Jack Daly (politician) | panel = Industrial and Commercial Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Seán | lastname = Fallon | articlename = Seán Fallon (politician) | panel = Industrial and Commercial Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Alexis | lastname = FitzGerald | articlename = Alexis FitzGerald Jnr | panel = Industrial and Commercial Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Jack | lastname = Fitzsimons | articlename = | panel = Industrial and Commercial Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Michael | lastname = Howard | articlename = Michael Howard (Irish politician) | panel = Industrial and Commercial Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Mick | lastname = Lanigan | articlename = | panel = Industrial and Commercial Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Patrick J. | lastname = Reynolds | articlename = Patrick J. Reynolds (politician) | panel = Industrial and Commercial Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Eoin | lastname = Ryan | articlename = Eoin Ryan Snr | panel = Industrial and Commercial Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Donie | lastname = Cassidy | articlename = | panel = Labour Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Denis | lastname = Cregan | articlename = | panel = Labour Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Des | lastname = Hanafin | articlename = | panel = Labour Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Jack | lastname = Harte | articlename = Jack Harte (politician) | panel = Labour Panel | party = Labour Party (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Jim | lastname = Higgins | articlename = Jim Higgins (Irish politician) | panel = Labour Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = Elected to the 25th Dáil at the general election on 17 February 1987 | firstname = Brian | lastname = Hillery | articlename = | panel = Labour Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Peter | lastname = Kelleher | articlename = Peter Kelleher (politician) | panel = Labour Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Mark | lastname = Killilea | articlename = Mark Killilea Jnr | panel = Labour Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Larry | lastname = McMahon | articlename = | panel = Labour Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Brian | lastname = Mullooly | articlename = | panel = Labour Panel | party = Fianna Fáil | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Andy | lastname = O'Brien | articlename = Andy O'Brien (politician) | panel = Labour Panel | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = James | lastname = Dooge | articlename = | panel = National University of Ireland | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = Leader of the Seanad | firstname = Michael D. | lastname = Higgins | articlename = | panel = National University of Ireland | party = Labour Party (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = Elected to the 25th Dáil at the general election on 17 February 1987 | firstname = Brendan | lastname = Ryan | articlename = Brendan Ryan (Cork politician) | panel = National University of Ireland | party = Independent politician (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Catherine | lastname = McGuinness | articlename = | panel = Dublin University | party = Independent politician (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Mary | lastname = Robinson | articlename = | panel = Dublin University | party = Labour Party (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Shane | lastname = Ross | articlename = | panel = Dublin University | party = Independent politician (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = John | lastname = Browne | articlename = John Browne (Fine Gael politician) | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = John | lastname = Connor | articlename = John Connor (Irish politician) | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Jimmy | lastname = Deenihan | articlename = | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = Elected to the 25th Dáil at the general election on 17 February 1987 | firstname = Patrick | lastname = Durcan | articlename = Patrick Durcan (politician) | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Brendan | lastname = Howlin | articlename = | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Labour Party (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = Elected to the 25th Dáil at the general election on 17 February 1987 | firstname = Christy | lastname = Kirwan | articlename = | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Labour Party (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Pat | lastname = Magner | articlename = | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Labour Party (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Stephen | lastname = McGonagle | articlename = | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Independent politician (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Seán | lastname = O'Leary | articlename = | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = John | lastname = Robb | articlename = John Robb (surgeon) | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Independent politician (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Bríd | lastname = Rodgers | articlename = | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Independent politician (Ireland) | filledvacancy = | notes = | firstname = Nuala | lastname = Fennell | articlename = | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = yes | notes = Nominated on 20 February 1987 to fill vacancy after the general election | firstname = Paddy | lastname = O'Toole | articlename = | panel = Nominated by the Taoiseach | party = Fine Gael | filledvacancy = yes | notes = Nominated on 20 February 1987 to fill vacancy after the general election

Changes

|date = 9 |month = February |year = 1983 |con = Administrative Panel |gain = Independent politician (Ireland) |loss = Fianna Fáil |note = Martin O'Donoghue resigns from parliamentary party after opposition to leader emerged from Irish phone tapping scandal |date = 18 |month = November |year = 1985 |con = Dublin University |gain = Independent politician (Ireland) |loss = Labour Party (Ireland) |note = Mary Robinson resigns in disagreement over Anglo-Irish Agreement |date = 4 |month = January |year = 1986 |con = Cultural and Educational Panel |gain = Progressive Democrats |loss = Labour Party (Ireland) |note = Helena McAuliffe-Ennis changes party |date = 17 |month = April |year = 1986 |con = Industrial and Commercial Panel |gain = Progressive Democrats |loss = Labour Party (Ireland) |note = Timmy Conway changes party |month = January |year = 1987 |con = Administrative Panel |gain = Progressive Democrats |loss = Independent politician (Ireland) |note = Martin O'Donoghue joins party |date = 17 |month = February |year = 1987 |con = Administrative Panel |gain = |loss = Fianna Fáil |note = Michael Lynch elected to the 25th Dáil at the 1987 general election |date = 17 |month = February |year = 1987 |con = Agricultural Panel |gain = |loss = Fianna Fáil |note = John Ellis elected to the 25th Dáil at the 1987 general election |date = 17 |month = February |year = 1987 |con = Cultural and Educational Panel |gain = |loss = Fianna Fáil |note = Michael Smith elected to the 25th Dáil at the 1987 general election |date = 17 |month = February |year = 1987 |con = Labour Panel |gain = |loss = Fine Gael |note = Jim Higgins elected to the 25th Dáil at the 1987 general election |date = 17 |month = February |year = 1987 |con = National University |gain = |loss = Labour Party (Ireland) |note = Michael D. Higgins elected to the 25th Dáil at the 1987 general election |date = 17 |month = February |year = 1987 |con = Nominated by the Taoiseach |gain = |loss = Fine Gael |note = Jimmy Deenihan elected to the 25th Dáil at the 1987 general election |date = 17 |month = February |year = 1987 |con = Nominated by the Taoiseach |gain = |loss = Labour Party (Ireland) |note = Brendan Howlin elected to the 25th Dáil at the 1987 general election |date = 20 |month = February |year = 1987 |con = Nominated by the Taoiseach |gain = Fine Gael |loss = |note = Nuala Fennell nominated to fill vacancy after the general election |date = 20 |month = February |year = 1987 |con = Nominated by the Taoiseach |gain = Fine Gael |loss = |note = Paddy O'Toole nominated to fill vacancy after the general election

References

References

1. (23 February 1983). "Election of Cathaoirleach". Seanad Debates – Vol. 100 No. 1.
2. (9 March 1983). "Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach". Seanad Debates – Vol. 100 No. 2.
3. (10 February 1983). "O'Donoghue resigns from parliamentary party". The Irish Times.
4. (19 November 1985). "Robinson resigns over agreement". The Irish Times.
5. McNamara, Maedhbh. (2000). "Women in Parliament: Ireland 1918–2000". Wolfhound Press.
6. (7 January 1986). "Membership bid by Burke and O'Leary may fail". The Irish Times.
7. (18 April 1986). "Labour senator defects to PDs". The Irish Times.
8. (19 January 1987). "Homan to run for PDs". The Irish Times.
9. (3 April 1987). "Election of Members to Dáil Éireann". Seanad Debates – Vol. 115 No. 15.
10. (3 April 1987). "Nomination of Members". Seanad Debates – Vol. 115 No. 15.

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