The members of Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland, are known as TDs.

The 16th Dáil saw a change of Taoiseach from Éamon de Valera to Seán Lemass in June 1959.

On 8 September 1961, President Éamon de Valera dissolved the Dáil on the request of Taoiseach Seán Lemass.

Fianna Fáil, denoted with a bullet (●), formed the 8th government of Ireland led by Éamon de Valera as Taoiseach.

On the meeting of the Dáil, Patrick Hogan (Lab), who had served as Ceann Comhairle since 1951, was proposed by John A. Costello (FG) and seconded by Éamon de Valera (FF) for the position.