20th Seanad

The 20th Seanad was in office from 1993 to 1997. An election to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas, followed the 1992 general election to the 27th Dáil. The senators served until the close of poll for the 21st Seanad.

Cathaoirleach

On 17 February 1993, Seán Fallon was proposed as Cathaoirleach by G. V. Wright and seconded by Jan O'Sullivan. He was elected without a division, with David Norris dissenting.
On 25 February 1993, Liam Naughten was proposed as Leas-Chathaoirleach by Maurice Manning and seconded by Madeleine Taylor-Quinn. Mary Henry was proposed by David Norris and seconded by Cathy Honan. Naughten was elected by a vote of 19 to 6.
On 4 July 1995, Seán Fallon died. On 12 July 1995, Liam Naughten was proposed as Cathaoirleach by Maurice Manning and seconded by Liam T. Cosgrave. He was elected without a division. On 19 July 1995, Brian Mullooly was proposed as Leas-Chathaoirleach by G. V. Wright and seconded by Tom Fitzgerald. He was elected without a division.
On 16 November 1996, Liam Naughten died. On 27 November 1996, Liam T. Cosgrave was proposed as Cathaoirleach by Maurice Manning and seconded by Jan O'Sullivan. Brian Mullooly was proposed by G. V. Wright and seconded by Michael Finneran. Cosgrave was elected by a vote of 31 to 28.

Composition of the 20th 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 20th Seanad first met on 17 February 1993.