House of the Oireachtas
Transition Year student Aine Sheehy will take part in a virtual weeks Work Experience with the House of the Oireachtas beginning Tuesday, May 4th.The basis for her work during the week will be the idea that she has been elected as a TD.
During the week Aine will have the chance to talk to the Chairs of both the Dáil and Seanad, the Ceann Comhairle and Cathaoirleach. She will also be talking to the Human Resources Department and will be given the opportunity to ask questions about working in the Oireachtas.
The following is an extract from Aine’s successful application to the House of the Oireachtas.
Houses Of The Oireachtas Work Experience Programme
To Whom it May Concern,
During this third lockdown, I have tried to make the most out of my extra time at home. As a transition year student, it’s the perfect time to start preparing for my future. When this opportunity arose I figured I would make every effort to be selected because I have a big interest in politics and society.
This programme will benefit me by informing me on how social and political institutions operate at local, national, European and global level, and the importance of political and social institutions in shaping our society. I can also develop a better understanding of equality, inequality and diversity in a range of areas of human life, including gender, ethnicity and social class.
I’m striving to get a Political Economy degree post secondary school and hopefully that would allow me to be employed in a job I would enjoy. I’ve been considering becoming an economist as that could lead me down many different paths.
In my third year business class we spent a lot of time studying the budget. Going to business class was the highlight of my day because I loved discussing the budget with my teacher and classmates. The aspect of political life I’m most interested in, is the power the Dáil has, especially in terms of the budget.
On budget day, the Minister for Finance presents the Budget Statement to Dáil Éireann. The Budget Statement outlines the general economic and fiscal outlook and the changes the Government proposes to make to taxes and spending. TDs have an opportunity to make speeches in response to the Budget Statement.
After the Budget Statement, the Government moves financial resolutions, and the Dáil Éireann denotes these resolutions. The debate may be held over a number of days. If the Dáil does not agree to the Government’s financial resolutions, a vote is called and the resolutions are declared carried or lost.
The Oireachtas has exclusive power to legislate, including a power vested in the Dáil of approving the financial resolutions relevant to the budget. However, the courts have allowed the Oireachtas to delegate limited legislative powers to other entities, such as Government Ministers. They have the power to create subordinate legislatures, propose changes to the constitution, which must then be submitted to referendum. The Oireachtas has the power to raise military or armed forces, allow international agreements to become part of the domestic law of the state, pass certain laws having extraterritorial effect and enact, when it considers a state emergency to exist, almost any law it deems necessary, with imposition of capital punishment being the only absolutely excluded act in all circumstances.
This is the challenge I’ve been awaiting. I believe in the importance of making a difference in the lives of ordinary people like myself. Ordinary people, in the world of Politics and Economics have, through History, done extraordinary things. “The first lesson of economics is scarcity: There is never enough of anything to satisfy all those who want it. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics” - Thomas Sowell.
We wish Aine every success, and look forward to hearing all about this fantastic opportunity
