[3] To honour Griffith's 1921 commitment, the Constitution required that the President of the Executive Council in making his nominations should "have special regard to the providing of representation for groups or parties not then adequately represented in Dáil Éireann".

[3][1] In October 1922, the provisional parliament passed a resolution moved by W. T. Cosgrave, who had succeeded Griffith as chairman of the Provisional Government, which stated that the President should "consult with representative persons and bodies, including the following: Chamber of commerce, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the benchers of the Honourable Society of King's Inns, Dublin, the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, Councils of the County boroughs of the Irish Free State".

[1][4] Cosgrave announced his selection in the Dáil on 6 December 1922, immediately after his election as president had been ratified by the Governor-General.

[6] At 8 pm, the Ceann Comhairle, who was also the returning officer,[9] announced the result would not be known for some time, and the Dáil was adjourned.

[6][7] The report on the conduct of the election speculated that groups of three TDs had coordinated their votes to ensure a candidate exceeded the quota.

[6][7] Counting was completed after midnight,[6] the results were announced next afternoon,[13] and the Seanad first assembled on 11 December 1922.

The New York Times remarked that the first senate was "representative of all classes", though it has also been described as, "the most curious political grouping in the history of the Irish state".