In short
This law amends the Constitution regarding how Bills (other than Money Bills) become law when there is disagreement or delay between Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. It establishes a process for a Bill to be deemed passed by both Houses even if Seanad Éireann rejects it or does not act on it within a certain timeframe.
What it regulates
- The process for Bills (not Money Bills) passed by Dáil Éireann that are rejected or delayed by Seanad Éireann.
- The conditions under which such Bills can be deemed passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas.
- The timeframe for Seanad Éireann to consider Bills sent from Dáil Éireann.
- Modifications allowed in Bills sent a second time to Seanad Éireann.
Who it concerns
- Dáil Éireann, as the initiator and primary passer of Bills.
- Seanad Éireann, as the reviewing body for Bills.
Key points
- If Seanad Éireann rejects a Bill (not a Money Bill) or does not act on it within a "stated period," Dáil Éireann can send it again within one year.
- The "stated period" is 18 months from when the Bill is first sent to Seanad Éireann, or the date of reassembly after a dissolution, whichever is earlier.
- If Seanad Éireann does not pass the re-sent Bill within 60 days (or a longer agreed period), Dáil Éireann can resolve for it to be deemed passed by both Houses.
- A re-sent Bill must be in its original form, except for modifications certified by the Chairman of Dáil Éireann to represent agreed amendments or changes due to the lapse of time.
📄 Legal text
Constitution (Amendment No. 13) Act, 1928
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1928
Constitution (Amendment No. 13) Act, 1928
Constitution (Amendment No. 13) Act, 1928
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Number 14 of 1928.
CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT No. 13) ACT, 1928.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
1.
Amendment of Article 38 of the Constitution.
2.
Bills rejected, etc., by Seanad Eireann.
3.
Short title.
Number 14 of 1928.
CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT No. 13) ACT, 1928.
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION BY DELETING THE PROVISIONS NOW CONTAINED THEREIN IN RELATION TO BILLS (OTHER THAN MONEY BILLS) PASSED BY DÁIL EIREANN AND REJECTED BY SEANAD EIREANN AND SUBSTITUTING PROVISIONS WHEREBY A BILL (NOT BEING A MONEY BILL) PASSED BY DÁIL EIREANN AND TWICE SENT TO SEANAD EIREANN SHALL AFTER A CERTAIN TIME BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES. [23rd July, 1928.]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:—
Amendment of Article 38 of the Constitution.
1.—Article 38 of the Constitution shall be and is hereby amended by the deletion of—
(a) the portion thereof beginning with the words “but a Bill” and ending with the words “last passed by Dáil Eireann,” and
(b) the words “Provided that”, and
(c) the sentence beginning with the words “When a Bill” and ending with the words “of the same”.
Bills rejected, etc., by Seanad Eireann.
2.—The Constitution shall be and is hereby amended by the insertion therein of the following Article immediately after Article 38 now contained therein, that is to say:—
“38A. Whenever a Bill (not being a Money Bill) initiated in and passed by Dáil Eireann and sent to Seanad Eireann is within the stated period hereinafter defined either rejected by Seanad Eireann or passed by Seanad Eireann with amendments to which Dáil Eireann does not agree or is neither passed (with or without amendment) nor rejected by Seanad Eireann within the said stated period, Dáil Eireann may within one year after the said stated period by resolution expressly passed under this Article again send such Bill to Seanad Eireann in the form (save only for such modifications as are hereinafter authorised) in which it was first so sent, and if Seanad Eireann does not, within sixty days thereafter or such longer period as may be agreed to by both Houses, pass such Bill either without amendment or with such amendments only as are agreed to by Dáil Eireann, such Bill shall, if Dáil Eireann so resolves after the expiration of such sixty days or longer period aforesaid, be deemed to have been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas at the expiration of the said sixty days or longer period aforesaid in the form in which it was so last sent to Seanad Eireann with such (if any) amendments as may have been made therein by Seanad Eireann and agreed to by Dáil Eireann.
The said stated period is the period commencing on the day on which the said Bill is first sent by Dáil Eireann to Seanad Eireann and ending at whichever of the following times is the earlier, that is to say, the expiration of eighteen months from the commencement of the said period or the date of the reassembly of the Oireachtas after a dissolution occurring after the commencement of such period.
When a Bill initiated in and passed by Seanad Eireann is amended by Dáil Eireann, such Bill shall be deemed to have been initiated in Dáil Eireann and this Article shall apply to such Bill accordingly and for the purpose of such application the said stated period shall in relation to such Bill commence on the day on which such Bill is first sent to Seanad Eireann after being so amended by Dáil Eireann.
Whenever a Bill has been sent by Dáil Eireann to Seanad Eireann nothing in this Article shall operate to restrict the right of Dáil Eireann to send such Bill on any subsequent occasion to Seanad Eireann otherwise than under this Article, and when such Bill is so sent to Seanad Eireann this Article shall apply as if such subsequent occasion were the first occasion on which such Bill was sent by Dáil Eireann to Seanad Eireann.
A Bill sent a second time by Dáil Eireann to Seanad Eireann and required for the purposes of this Article to be in the form in which it was first so sent may contain such (if any) modifications as shall be certified by the Chairman of Dáil Eireann to represent amendments made therein by Seanad Eireann and agreed to by Dáil Eireann or to be necessary owing to the lapse of time since such Bill was first sent by Dáil Eireann to Seanad Eireann.”
Short title.
3.—This Act may be cited as the Constitution (Amendment No. 13) Act, 1928.
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