The Bar of the House

What is the Bar of the House?

The Bar of the House is a cylindrical bronze rod. When in use, it fits onto a pair of brackets behind the last row of seats in the Chamber, directly opposite the Speaker’s Chair. It is usually kept on a stand near the entrance to the Chamber.

When mounted on the brackets, the Bar marks the boundary of the floor of the House. No Member may speak to the House from the other side of the Bar and no stranger may pass through the Bar unless invited by the House.

The history of the Bar of the House

Historically, the Bar is the place where people come to be addressed or questioned by the Speaker on behalf of the House. In theory, people may be called to the Bar to receive the thanks of the House or to give information to the House.

The only people called to appear at the Bar of the House between 1901 and 2001 were newspapermen Frank Browne and Raymond Fitzpatrick. They were imprisoned for a breach of Parliamentary Privilege.