]> Constitution of Dáil Éireann an electronic edition Dáil Éireann Electronic edition compiled by Audrey Murphy Second draft. 987 CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College Cork
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 Dorothy Macardle Constitution of Dáil Éireann Dorothy Macardle The Irish Republic: a documented chronicle of the Anglo-Irish conflict and the partitioning of Ireland, with a detailed account of the period 1916–1923 Victor Gollancz Ltd London 1937 925–926

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 by Dáil Éireann. 1919-01-21 The whole text is in English apart from 37 words, principally references to institutions and functionaries. 37 words in Irish, principally institutions and functionaries. political prose 20c law constitution 2011-01-23 Beatrix Färber ed. Conversion script run, new wordcount made. 2008-07-19 Beatrix Färber ed. Value of div0 "type" attribute modified, minor modifications made to header; keywords added. 2005-08-25 Julianne Nyhan ed. Normalised language codes and edited langUsage for XML conversion 2005-08-04T14:41:43+0100 Peter Flynn ed. Converted to XML 2005-02-11 Beatrix Färber ed. Header updated, file reparsed; HTML file created. 1997-02-25 Peter Flynn ed. HTML file generated using OmniMark. 1997-02-25 Mavis Cournane ed. File parsed using SGMLS. 1996-11-17 Donnchadh Ó Corráin ed. Header constructed, structural mark-up added, checked and verified. 1996 Audrey Murphy ed. Text proofed. 1996 Audrey Murphy data capture Text captured by scanning. Constitution of Dáil Éireann As approved provisionally January 21st, 1919. First Section:

Dáil Éireann shall possess full powers to legislate and shall be composed of Delegates (Teachtaí) chosen by the people of Ireland from the present constituencies of the country.

 Second Section:

Full executive powers shall be held at any time by the Ministry (Aireacht) in office at the time.

The Ministry shall be composed of the following: A Prime Minister (Príomh-Aireach) chosen by Dáil Éireann, and four other Ministers, viz.: Minister of Finance (Aireach Airgid), Minister of Home Affairs (A. Gnóthaí Duthchais), Minister of Foreign Affairs (A. Gnóthaí Coigcríoch), and Minister of Defence (A. Cosanta). The Prime Minister shall nominate the four others, and shall have power to dismiss them from office.

Every Minister must be a member of the Dáil, and shall at all times be answerable to the Dáil.

The names of Ministers must be put before the Dáil for ratification at the first assembly after their nomination by the Prime Minister.

 Prime Minister

The Prime Minister shall hold office as soon as elected and the other Ministers as soon as their appointment is ratified by the Dáil.

The Dáil shall have power by vote to dismiss the Ministry or any of the Ministers from office if a written order in the form of a unanimous resolution be presented for that object seven days previously.

 Section Three:

Every meeting of the Dáil shall be presided over by a Chairman (Ceann Cómhairle) or Vice-Chairman (Ceann Ionaid) chosen by the Dáil for the year. Should the Chairman and Vice-Chairman be absent, the Dáil shall select substitutes or elect a Provisional Chairman (Ceann Cómhairle Sealadach).

 Section Four:

The Ministry shall receive whatever money it needs, by vote of the Dáil. The Ministry shall be answerable to the Dáil for such moneys, and the accounts shall be audited with regard to the spending of money for the Dáil twice yearly, viz. at Samhain and Bealtaine (November and May). The auditing shall be carried out by an auditor or auditors chosen by the Dáil. No member of the Dáil shall be chosen as auditor.

 Section Five:

The present is a provisional constitution, and may be altered on a written unanimous order being given to that effect seven days previously.