Cathaoirleach
Cathaoirleach (;Irish for "chairperson"; plural: Cathaoirligh) is the title of the chair (or presiding officer) of Seanad Éireann, the sixty-member upper house of the Oireachtas, the legislature of Ireland. The current Cathaoirleach is Senator Paddy Burke.
Powers and functions
The Cathaoirleach is the sole judge of order and has a range of powers and functions namely:
Calls on members to speak and all speeches must be addressed to the Chair.
Puts such questions to the House as are required, supervises Divisions and declares the results.
Has authority to suppress disorder, to enforce prompt obedience to Rulings and may order members to withdraw from the House or name them for suspension by the House itself for a period.
In the case of great disorder can suspend or adjourn the House.
The Cathaoirleach is also an ex-officio member of the Presidential Commission, the collective vice-presidency of Ireland.
Leas-Chathaoirleach
The Cathaoirleach's deputy is the Leas-Chathaoirleach. The current Leas-Chathaoirleach is Denis O'Donovan.