A Teachta Dála ( /ˌtjɒxtə ˈdɔːlə/ TYOKH-tə DAW-lə, Irish: [ˌtʲaxt̪ˠə ˈd̪ˠaːlˠa] ⓘ;[1] plural Teachtaí Dála), abbreviated as TD (plural TDanna in Irish,[2] TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Ireland.
The outgoing Ceann Comhairle is automatically returned unless they announce their retirement before the dissolution of the Dáil.
A candidate for election as TD must be an Irish citizen and over 21 years of age.
Members of the judiciary, the Garda Síochána, and the Permanent Defence Forces are disqualified from membership of the Dáil.
[13] After controversy regarding alleged abuses of the Oireachtas expenses provisions, the system was simplified in 2009 and 2010 into two allowances:[14][15][16][17]