On my fifteenth day in Dublin I attended a short lecture and then went to the Irish Parliament building.
The lecture was about the Irish legal and political system. It was a fundamental subject and one we inevitably needed to cover while in Ireland, especially before visiting the Oireachtas.
I found this lecture engaging because it was interesting seeing the common similarities and stark differences between both our government systems. One major difference I saw is that the position of Ireland is more of a ceremonial figurehead than a position of inherent power. With the Prime Minister having more sway over governmental affairs.
It was also interesting how lobbying is more of a public practice compared to how discreet it is in the United States.
Another big difference is that Ireland has a plethora of political parties compared to America which functions of a two party system. One practice I found interesting is that during election cycles political parties will form coalitions in order to combine and consolidate votes for political power.
Once the lecture was over we walked to the Oireachtas which is at the Leinster House. I never realized it was so close to Grafton Street.
Once we were there we went on a tour of the building. The building is beautiful and surprisingly colorful compared to government buildings I have been in at the United States. I especially liked this one room that had this old bookcase on it with a menagerie of antique books. Our tour guide told us there are also two pubs located in the building which I thought was very funny.
This was a very eventful day of my trip and was a great opportunity to get a look into the political anatomy of another democratic country.