Debates Office

What is the Official Report?

The Official Report is the written record of everything that is said in public sittings of the Houses of the Oireachtas and their parliamentary committees.

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A most hazardous profession – parliamentary reporting in its historical context

The expansion of parliamentary reporting in Ireland – up to the abolition of the Irish Parliament in 1800 – was mirrored in England, where throughout the 19th century the Hansard tradition of reporting evolved.

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Reporting of foreign dignitaries and Presidents

While many foreign dignitaries are welcomed each year to the visitors’ galleries, it is rare that they make an address to Members in one of the Chambers. When such addresses are made, they are usually by Heads of State or Government.

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Reporting Irish-language contributions in the Official Report

In common with many other countries, Ireland has two official languages and contributions in both languages are reported in the Official Report.

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Reporting a revolutionary parliament

Although real-time official reports of proceedings of the First Dáil did not become the norm during its lifetime, its Members and officials were keenly aware of the importance of publicising its work and of emphasising its legitimacy at home and abroad.

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What parliamentary reporters do

Parliamentary reporters, who make up the majority in the team, are the ones most likely to be seen dashing, pen in hand, from their desks to the Dáil and Seanad Chambers or committee rooms to take a log of who is saying what to whom.

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Producing the Official Report in the age of shorthand

Fundamentally, the Debates Office has been doing the same job since its establishment in 1922.

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People of the Debates Office

Since 1922, the Official Report produced by the Debates Office has been the work of parliamentary reporters, editors, administrative staff and, in earlier times, audio typists who took dictation from the reporters.

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The Official Report as a window to the past

As well as telling us about important political decisions and changes in the law, the historical debates can help us learn about how people in Ireland saw themselves and one another in the past.

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Producing the Official Report in the IT era

The big switch in 1992 to reporters transcribing their own takes was followed closely by the belated arrival in the Debates Office of information technology.

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