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{{Short description|Head of state of Ireland}}
{{about|the head of state of modern Ireland|the president of the 1919–1922 revolutionary Irish Republic|President of Dáil Éireann}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = President
| body = Ireland
| flag = Flag of the President of Ireland.svg
| flagsize = 150px
| flagcaption = [[Presidential Standard of Ireland|Presidential Standard]]
| insignia = Seal of the President of Ireland.png
| insigniasize = 150px
| insigniacaption = [[Seal of the President of Ireland|Presidential Seal]]
| native_name = {{native name|ga|Uachtarán na hÉireann}}
| image = File:2022 Michael D. Higgins (51988246304) (cropped).jpg
| incumbent = [[Michael D. Higgins]]
| incumbentsince = 11 November 2011
| department = {{ubl|[[Politics of the Republic of Ireland#President|Executive branch of the Irish Government]]|[[Politics of the Republic of Ireland#President|Office of the President]]}}
| residence = {{lang|ga|[[Áras an Uachtaráin]]}}
| appointer = [[Direct election|Direct popular vote]]<br />{{Small|by [[Instant-runoff voting]]}}
| nominator = Members of the [[Oireachtas]] or local councils
| seat = [[Dublin]], Ireland
| style = [[President (government title)|President]] ({{lang|ga|A Uachtaráin}}) or <br/> [[Excellency|Your Excellency]] ({{lang|ga|A Shoilse}})
| status = {{ubl| [[Head of State]]|[[Commander-in-chief]]}}
| precursor = *[[Governor-General of the Irish Free State]]
*[[Irish head of state from 1922 to 1949|King of the Irish Free State]]
| termlength = Seven years,
| termlength_qualified = renewable once
| constituting_instrument = [[Constitution of Ireland]] (1937) Articles 12−14
| formation = {{start date and age|df=y|1938|6|25}}
| inaugural = [[Douglas Hyde]]
| salary = €249,014 annually<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Philip|title=Revealed: How much the Office of the President costs over seven years|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/revealed-how-much-the-office-of-the-president-costs-over-seven-years-36785078.html|access-date=9 April 2018|work=[[Irish Independent]]|publisher=[[Independent News & Media]]|date=8 April 2018|archive-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410073859/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/revealed-how-much-the-office-of-the-president-costs-over-seven-years-36785078.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
{{Politics of the Republic of Ireland}}
The '''president of Ireland''' ({{langx|ga|Uachtarán na hÉireann}}) is the [[head of state]] of [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and the supreme commander of the [[Defence Forces (Ireland)|Irish Defence Forces]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44027497|title=An Ambiguous Office? The Position of Head of State in the Irish Constitution|author=John Coakley|journal=Irish Jurist|volume=48|publication-date=2012|page=43-70|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref> The presidency is a predominantly [[figurehead|ceremonial]] institution, serving as the representative of the Irish state both at home and abroad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government-in-ireland/houses-of-the-oireachtas/president-introduction-to-the-president-of-ireland/#e1aefe|title=President of Ireland|publisher=Citizens Information Board of Ireland|publication-date=26 March 2025|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref> Nevertheless, the office of president is endowed with certain reserve powers which have constitutional importance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4982252|title=Does the Irish Constitution Forbid a Vocal Presidency?
|author=Seán Rainford & Jamie McLoughlin|journal=Dublin University Law Journal|publication-date=5 December 2024|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref> When invoking these powers, the president acts as the guardian of the [[Constitution of Ireland|Irish constitution]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-yXO6OCKbM|title=The President of Ireland, Roles and Functions|publisher=The Office of the Secretary General to the President of Ireland|author=Áras an Uachtaráin|publication-date=28 May 2014|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1150/the-irish-presidential-system|title=The Irish presidential system|author=Jason T. Williams|journal=Interstate - Journal of International Affairs|publication-date=1999|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref> This representative and moderating role is in keeping with the president's solemn oath to "...maintain the Constitution of Ireland and uphold its laws..", to "...fulfil my duties faithfully and conscientiously in accordance with the Constitution and the law...", and to "...dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|title=Article 12.8, Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Office of the Attorney General of Ireland|publication-date=January 2020|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref> The president's official residence and principal workplace is {{lang|ga|[[Áras an Uachtaráin]]}} in [[Phoenix Park]], [[Dublin]].
Presidents hold office for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms.<ref name="coiart12-3">Constitution of Ireland: Article 12.3</ref> The president is elected directly by the people, although there is no poll if only one candidate is nominated, which has occurred on six occasions, most recently in [[2004 Irish presidential election|2004]]. The office was established by the [[Constitution of Ireland]] in 1937. The first president assumed office in 1938, and [[Irish head of state from 1922 to 1949|became recognised internationally as head of state in 1949]] after the coming into effect of the [[Republic of Ireland Act 1948|Republic of Ireland Act]]. The current president is [[Michael D. Higgins]], who was [[2011 Irish presidential election|first elected]] on 29 October 2011, and inaugurated on 11 November 2011. He was [[2018 Irish presidential election|re-elected for a second term]] on 26 October 2018.
==Ordinary duties and functions==
The [[Constitution of Ireland]] provides for a [[parliamentary system]] of government, by which the role of the [[head of state]] is largely a ceremonial one.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://legalblog.ie/the-presidenct/|title=The President|publisher=Irish Legal Blog|access-date=20 February 2025}}</ref> The president is formally one of three parts of the [[Oireachtas]] (national parliament), which also comprises [[Dáil Éireann]] (the Assembly of Ireland or [[lower house]]) and [[Seanad Éireann]] (the Senate of Ireland or [[upper house]]).<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27551986|title=The Symbolic Power of Ireland's President Robinson|author=Valerie Bresnihan|journal=Presidential Studies Quarterly|volume=29|issue=2|publication-date=June 1999|pages=250-262|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref>
Unlike most [[parliamentary republic]]s, the president is not designated as the ''nominal'' chief executive. Rather, executive authority in Ireland is expressly vested in the [[Government of Ireland|Government]] (informally known as "Cabinet"). The Government is nevertheless obliged by Article 28.5 to keep the president generally informed on matters of foreign and domestic policy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html#part5|title=Article 28.5, Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|publication-date=11 June 2019|access-date=26 July 2025}}</ref> Most of the functions of the president may be performed only in accordance with the strict instructions of the Constitution, or on the binding "[[advice (constitutional)|advice]]" of the Government. The president does, however, possess certain personal powers that may be exercised discretionally.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://doras.dcu.ie/20743/1/President_in_Comparative_Perspective_Elgie_final.pdf|title=The President of Ireland in comparative perspective|author=Robert Elgie|journal=Irish Political Studies|volume=27|issue=4|publication-date=20 November 2012|page=502-521|access-date= 25 July 2025}}</ref>
===Constitutional functions===
The main functions as prescribed by the Constitution:
;Appoints the Government: The [[taoiseach]] (that is, Ireland's [[head of government]]) and [[Minister (government)|ministers]] altogether comprise the [[Government of Ireland|Government]], Ireland's [[Central government|central executive authority]]. The president formally appoints the members of the Government, and accepts their resignations. The taoiseach is appointed upon the nomination of the Dáil, and the president is required to appoint whomever the Dáil designates without the right to refuse appointment. All other ministers are appointed upon the advice of the taoiseach and with approval of the Dáil; as with appointing the taoiseach, the president is required to make the appointment without the right to appoint someone else. Ministers are dismissed on the advice of the taoiseach and the taoiseach must, unless there is a dissolution of the Dáil, resign upon [[motion of no confidence|losing the confidence]] of the house.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html#part5|title=Article 28, Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|publication-date=11 June 2019|access-date=26 July 2025}}</ref>
;Appoints the judiciary: The president appoints judges to all [[courts of the Republic of Ireland|courts in Ireland]], on the advice of the Government.<ref name=irlpres/>
;Appoints the constitutional officers of the State: The president appoints the [[Attorney General of Ireland|attorney general]] and the [[Comptroller and Auditor General (Ireland)|comptroller and auditor general]] on the nomination of the taoiseach and Dáil Éireann, respectively. The president may dismiss the attorney general from office at any time if so advised by the taoiseach, whereas the comptroller and auditor general may only be dismissed for stated misbehavior or incapacity as resolved by both Houses of the Oireachtas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|title=Articles 30 & 33, Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|publication-date=11 June 2019|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.audit.gov.ie/en/about-us/|title=About the Office and Who We Audit|publisher=Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of Ireland|access-date=7 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.ie/en/office-of-the-attorney-general/organisation-information/about-the-office-of-the-attorney-general/|title=About the Office of the Attorney General|publisher=Government of Ireland|publication-date=25 September 2024|access-date=26 July 2025}}</ref>
;Convenes and dissolves the Dáil:This power is exercised on the advice of the taoiseach; Government or Dáil approval is not needed. The president may only refuse a [[dissolution of parliament|dissolution]] when a taoiseach has lost the confidence of the Dáil.<ref name=irlpres/>
;Signs bills into law: A ceremonial duty, as the president cannot [[veto]] a [[bill (law)|bill]] that the Dáil and the Seanad have duly adopted. However, the president may refer it to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality. If the Supreme Court upholds the bill, the president is obliged to sign it. If, however, it is found to be unconstitutional, the president may refuse to give assent.<ref name=irlpres/>
;Represents the state in foreign affairs: This power is exercised only on the advice of the Government. The president accredits Irish ambassadors abroad, receives the [[Letter of credence|letters of credence]] of foreign diplomats, and both pays and accepts [[state visit]]s. Ministers sign international treaties in the president's name. This role was not exercised by the president prior to the [[Republic of Ireland Act 1948]].<ref name="irlpres" />
;Serves as Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces: Supreme command and control over the [[Defence Forces (Ireland)|Defence Forces]] vests in the president. This role is similar in status to that of a [[commander-in-chief]]. An [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]]'s [[commission (document)|commission]] is signed and sealed by the president. This is a nominal function, the powers of which are exercised on the advice of the Government via the [[Minister for Defence (Ireland)|Minister for Defence]].<ref>Constitution of Ireland: Article 13.4</ref>
;Exercises the power of clemency: The president has "the right of [[pardon]] and the power to [[Commutation of sentence|commute]] or remit punishment".<ref>Constitution of Ireland: Article 13.6</ref> Pardon, for [[miscarriage of justice|miscarriages of justice]], has applied rarely: Thomas Quinn in 1940, Brady in 1943, and [[Nicky Kelly]] in 1992.<ref>[https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1993-11-30/20/ Criminal Procedure Bill, 1993: Report Stage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118205825/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1993-11-30/20/ |date=18 November 2018 }} Dáil debates, 30 November 1993</ref> The current procedure is specified by Section 7 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1993.<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1993/en/act/pub/0040/sec0007.html Petition for grant of pardon.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119040704/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1993/en/act/pub/0040/sec0007.html |date=19 January 2012 }} Criminal Procedure Act, 1993; Irish Statute Book</ref> There were plans in 2005 for paramilitary [[fugitive]]s to receive pardons as part of the [[Northern Ireland peace process]], to supplement the 1998 early release of serving prisoners after the [[Good Friday Agreement]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1109/northpolitics.html?rss|title=McCabe suspects excluded, says McDowell|date=9 November 2005|work=RTÉ News|access-date=20 December 2010|archive-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119040126/http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1109/northpolitics.html?rss|url-status=live}}</ref> This was controversial and was soon abandoned along with similar British proposals.<ref>[http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2005/11/30/00003.asp#N16 Leaders' Questions.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919165554/http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2005/11/30/00003.asp#N16 |date=19 September 2012 }} Dáil debates, 30 November 2005</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aKznwvpYpg1g&refer=uk|title=Sinn Féin Withdraws Support for Amnesty Legislation|date=21 December 2005|work=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|access-date=20 December 2010|archive-date=6 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106043119/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aKznwvpYpg1g&refer=uk|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/967134281.html?dids=967134281:967134281&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+12%2C+2006&author=MICHAEL+SETTLE+CHIEF+UK+POLITICAL+CORRESPONDENT&pub=The+Herald&desc=Hain+drops+amnesty+for+fugitive+killers+U-turn+over+Northern+Ireland+plan+to+free+terrorists&pqatl=google|title=Hain drops amnesty for fugitive killers; U-turn over Northern Ireland plan to free terrorists|last=Settle|first=Michael|date=12 January 2006|work=The Herald|page=11|access-date=20 December 2010|___location=Glasgow|archive-date=13 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113052735/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/967134281.html?dids=967134281:967134281&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+12%2C+2006&author=MICHAEL+SETTLE+CHIEF+UK+POLITICAL+CORRESPONDENT&pub=The+Herald&desc=Hain+drops+amnesty+for+fugitive+killers+U-turn+over+Northern+Ireland+plan+to+free+terrorists&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref> Power of commutation and remittance are not restricted to the president,<ref name="O'Mahony2002">{{cite book|last=O'Mahony|first=Paul|title=Criminal justice in Ireland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zx422jZOYfkC&pg=PA84|access-date=20 December 2010|date=March 2002|publisher=Institute of Public Administration|isbn=978-1-902448-71-8|pages=84–5|archive-date=6 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506010619/https://books.google.com/books?id=zx422jZOYfkC&pg=PA84|url-status=live}}</ref> though this was the case for [[capital punishment in Ireland|death sentences handed down prior to the abolition of capital punishment]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.refcom.ie/en/Pastreferendums/AbolitionoftheDeathPenalty/ReferendumCommissionexplanatoryleafletProposedchangestothearticlesintheConstitutionrelatingtotheDeathPenalty/|title=explanatory leaflet Proposed changes to the articles in the Constitution relating to the Death Penalty|year=2001|publisher=Referendum Commission|access-date=20 December 2010|archive-date=14 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614101553/http://www.refcom.ie/en/Pastreferendums/AbolitionoftheDeathPenalty/ReferendumCommissionexplanatoryleafletProposedchangestothearticlesintheConstitutionrelatingtotheDeathPenalty/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===
;Appoints certain State officials: The president appoints, on the advice of the Government, the chairman of the council and senior professors of the [[Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies]];<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1940/en/act/pub/0013/ Institute For Advanced Studies Act, 1940] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119213100/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1940/en/act/pub/0013/ |date=19 January 2012 }} Irish Statute Book</ref> the governor of the [[Central Bank of Ireland]];<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1942/en/act/pub/0022/ Central Bank Act, 1942] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119143057/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1942/en/act/pub/0022/ |date=19 January 2012 }} Irish Statute Book</ref> the members of the Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal;<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2003/en/act/pub/0012/ Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119183916/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2003/en/act/pub/0012/ |date=19 January 2012 }} Irish Statute Book</ref> and the members of the [[Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission]].<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/act/pub/0020/ Garda Síochána Act 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119191052/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/act/pub/0020/ |date=19 January 2012 }} Irish Statute Book</ref> The president also appoints, on the nomination of both Houses of the Oireachtas, the [[Ombudsman (Ireland)|ombudsman]].<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1980/en/act/pub/0026/ Ombudsman Act, 1980] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119073618/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1980/en/act/pub/0026/ |date=19 January 2012 }} Irish Statute Book</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ombudsman.ie/en/organisation-information/75f84-what-we-do/|title=What We Do|publisher=Office of the Ombudsman of Ireland|publication-date=23 September 2024|access-date=26 July 2025}}</ref>
;Appoints Chester Beatty Library trustee: The president appoints one [[trustee]] to the [[Chester Beatty Library]]. This was specified in [[Chester Beatty]]'s will and given effect by a 1968 Act of the Oireachtas.<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1968/en/act/pub/0010/print.html Chester Beatty Library Act, 1968] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119163623/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1968/en/act/pub/0010/print.html |date=19 January 2012 }} Irish Statute Book</ref>
;Presides over Irish Red Cross Society: The president is ''ex officio'' president of the [[Irish Red Cross|Irish Red Cross Society]].<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1944/en/act/pub/0020/print.html Red Cross Act, 1944] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119074900/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1944/en/act/pub/0020/print.html |date=19 January 2012 }} [[Irish Statute Book]]</ref>
;Acts as Patron of Gaisce - The President's Award: The president is ''ex officio'' [[patron]] of [[Gaisce – The President's Award]], established by [[Trust instrument|trust deed]] in 1985.<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1985/en/act/pub/0010/sec0016.html Finance Act, 1985; §16: Gifts to the President's Award Scheme] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119130319/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1985/en/act/pub/0010/sec0016.html |date=19 January 2012 }} Irish Statute Book</ref>
===Civic functions===
;Acts as Patron of Clans of Ireland: The president is patron of [[Clans of Ireland]], including its Order of Merit, since he so agreed in January 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.clansofireland.ie/baile/Patron | website = clansofireland.ie | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130726010549/http://www.clansofireland.ie/baile/Patron|archive-date=26 July 2013 | title = Patron }}</ref>
;Awards the dignity of Saoi for life: The president confers the title of [[Saoi]] for life on those so elected from among the existing membership of [[Aosdána]], a state-supported association of Irish creative artists. The title is the highest honour bestowed by the organization. There are at most seven living Saoithe at any time;<ref name=saoi>{{cite web |title=Saoi Award and Nomination Process |url=http://aosdana.artscouncil.ie/Saoi.aspx |access-date=2008-05-13 }}</ref> a limit increased from five in 2007–08.<ref name="pr20070711">{{cite web|url=http://www.artscouncil.ie/News/President-of-Ireland-Mary-McAleese-honours-the-artist-Patrick-Scott-at-a-special-Aosdana-ceremony/|title=President of Ireland Mary McAleese honours the artist Patrick Scott at a special Aosdána ceremony|date=11 July 2007|publisher=Arts Council of Ireland|access-date=5 February 2015|quote=Members of Aosdána may receive this honour of distinction in the arts, known as Saoi, and not more than five artists may hold this honour at any one time.}}</ref>
;Supports various charities: The president serves as a patron to myriad charities in Ireland. The charities ultimately supported vary from president to president and are in keeping with the president's vision and theme for their presidency.
===Special limitations===
*The president may not leave the state without the consent of the Government.<ref name="coiart12-9">Constitution of Ireland: Article 12.9</ref>
*Every formal address or message "to the nation" or to either or both Houses of the Oireachtas must have prior approval of the Government.<ref>Constitution of Ireland: Article 13.7</ref> Other than on these two (quite rare) occasions, there is no limitation on the president's right to speak. While earlier presidents were exceptionally cautious in delivering speeches and on almost every occasion submitted them for vetting, [[Mary Robinson]], [[Mary McAleese]], and [[Michael D. Higgins]] made much more use of their right to speak without Government approval, with McAleese doing many live television and radio interviews. Nonetheless, by convention presidents refrain from direct criticism and commentary of the Government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40896065.html|author=Sean Murray|title=Explainer: What are the powers — and limits — of the President?
|publisher=The Irish Examiner|publication-date=18 June 2023|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/michael-d-higgins-and-speaking-up-6620241-Feb2025/|author=Seán Rainford and Dr Jamie McLoughlin|title=Opinion: Michael D Higgins has not overstepped the constitutional boundaries of the Presidency|publisher=The Journal|publication-date=21 February 2025|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref>
==Reserve powers==
===Powers exercised in absolute discretion===
The president possesses the following powers exercised "in his absolute discretion" according to the English version of the Constitution. The Irish version states that these powers are exercised ''as a chomhairle féin'' which is usually translated as "under his own counsel". Lawyers have suggested that a conflict may exist in this case between the two versions of the constitution. In the event of a clash between the Irish and English versions of the constitution, the Irish one is given supremacy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|title=Article 25.5.4°, Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|publication-date=11 June 2019|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref> While "absolute discretion" appears to leave some freedom for manoeuvre for a president in deciding whether to initiate contact with the opposition, "own counsel" has been interpreted by some lawyers as suggesting that ''no'' contact whatsoever can take place. As a result, it is considered controversial for the president to be contacted by the leaders of any political parties in an effort to influence a decision made using the discretionary powers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/18190/1/DF_revisiting.pdf|author=Delia Ferri & Fergus Ryan|title=Revisiting the Debate on Irish “Semi-Presidentialism”: Tradition or Evolution?|publisher=Maynooth University Research Library|page=1055|publication-date=January 2023|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref>
====Refusal of a Dáil dissolution====
A [[taoiseach]] who has "ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Eireann" is required to resign, unless the taoiseach asks the president to dissolve the Dáil. The president has the right to refuse such a request, in which case the taoiseach must resign immediately.<ref name="isbcons">{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|at=article 13 (2)|title=Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref> This power has never been invoked. However, the necessary circumstances existed in 1944, 1982 and 1994. The apparent discrepancy, referred to above, between the Irish and English versions of the Constitution has discouraged presidents from contemplating the use of the power. On the three occasions when the necessary circumstances existed, presidents have adopted an ultra-strict policy of non-contact with the opposition. The most notable instance of this was in January 1982, when [[Patrick Hillery]] instructed an aide, Captain Anthony Barber, to ensure that no telephone calls from the opposition were to be passed on to him. Nevertheless, three opposition figures, including [[Fianna Fáil]] leader [[Charles Haughey]], demanded to be connected to Hillery, with Haughey threatening to end Barber's career if the calls weren't put through. Hillery, as Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces, recorded the threat in Barber's military personnel file and recorded that Barber had been acting on his instructions in refusing the call.<ref>Fergus Finlay, ''Snakes & Ladders'' (New Island Books, 1998). p.91.</ref> Even without this consideration, refusing such a request would arguably create a [[constitutional crisis]], as it is considered a fairly strong [[constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]] that the head of state always grants a parliamentary dissolution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2023/1017/1389911-just-what-can-the-president-of-ireland-actually-say-and-do/|title=Just what can the President of Ireland actually say and do?
|author=Conor O'Mahony|publisher=RTÉ|publication-date=17 October 2023|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref>
====Appointment of members of the Council of State====
{{main|List of presidential appointees to the Council of State (Ireland)}}
The president appoints up to seven members of the Council of State, and may remove or replace such appointed members at their discretion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|title=Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|access-date=28 November 2024|at=Article 31 (3)}}</ref>
===
It is required that, before exercising certain reserve powers, the president consult the [[Council of State (Ireland)|Council of State]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|title=Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|access-date=28 November 2024|at=Article 32}}</ref> However, the president is not compelled to act in accordance with the Council's advice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|at=Article 31|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|title=Constitution of Ireland|access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref> Indeed, the president may act contrary to its advice.<ref>{{Cite web|at=Article 13 (9)|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|title=Constitution of Ireland|access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://legalblog.ie/the-presidenct/|title=The President|publisher=Irish Legal Blog|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref>
====
The president may refer a bill, in whole or part, to the [[Supreme Court of the Republic of Ireland|Supreme Court]] to test its constitutionality. If the Supreme Court finds any referred part unconstitutional, the entire bill falls.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|at=Article 26 (1)|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|title=Constitution of Ireland|access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref> This power may not be applied to a [[money bill]], a bill to amend the Constitution, or an urgent bill the time for the consideration of which has been abridged in the Seanad. This is the most widely used reserve power;<ref name="meetingscouncilofstate">[http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=18&lang=eng Meetings of the Council of State] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605024932/http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=18&lang=eng |date=5 June 2011 }} Office of the President</ref> a full list is at [[Council of State (Ireland)#Referring of bills]]. In a 1982 judgment delivered under such a referral, [[Chief Justice of Ireland|Chief Justice]] [[Tom O'Higgins]] bemoaned the crude strictures of the prescribed process; especially the fact that, if the court finds that a bill does not violate the Constitution, this judgment can never subsequently be challenged.<ref>[http://www.supremecourt.ie/supremecourt/sclibrary3.nsf/%28WebFiles%29/7FC625DAD10A956C802575F3002D6B7E/$FILE/Housing_%5B1983%5D%20IR%20181.htm In the matter of Article 26 of the Constitution and in the Matter of The Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Bill, 1981] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817220329/http://www.supremecourt.ie/supremecourt/sclibrary3.nsf/(WebFiles)/7FC625DAD10A956C802575F3002D6B7E/$FILE/Housing_%5B1983%5D%20IR%20181.htm |date=17 August 2010 }} 1983 IRSC 185–7</ref>
====Refer bills to the people====
{{main|ordinary referendum}}
If requested to do so by a petition signed by a majority of the membership of the Seanad and one-third of the membership of the Dáil, the president may, after consultation with the Council of State, decline to sign into law a bill (other than a bill to amend the constitution) they consider to be of great "national importance" until it has been approved by either the people in a referendum or the Dáil reassembling after a general election, held within eighteen months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|title=Article 27 (4), Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref> This power has never been used, and no such petition has been invoked. Of the 60 senators, [[Nominated members of Seanad Éireann|11 are nominated by the Taoiseach]], so there is rarely a majority opposed to a Government bill.
====
The president may, at the request of the Dáil, impose a time-limit on the period during which the Seanad may consider a bill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|at=Article 24 (1)|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|title=Constitution of Ireland|access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref> The effect of this power is to restrict the power of the Seanad to delay a bill that the Government considers urgent.
====
The president may, if requested to do so by the Seanad, establish a Committee of Privileges to resolve a dispute between the two Houses of the Oireachtas as to whether or not a bill is a money bill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|at=Article 22 (2)|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|title=Constitution of Ireland|access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref>
====Address the Oireachtas====
The president may address, or send a message to, either or both Houses of the Oireachtas.<ref name="Constitution of Ireland">{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|at=Article 13 (7)|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|title=Constitution of Ireland|access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref> [[Council of State (Ireland)#Addresses to the Oireachtas|Four such addresses]] have been made: one by de Valera, two by Robinson, and one by McAleese.<ref name="meetingscouncilofstate"/> The approval of the Government is needed for the message; in practice, the entire text is submitted.<ref name="oirecttee21">Oireachtas Committee report, p.21</ref>
====Address the Nation====
The president may "address a message to the Nation" subject to the same conditions as an address to the Oireachtas.<ref name="Constitution of Ireland"/> This power has never been used.<ref name="meetingscouncilofstate"/> Commonplace messages, such as Christmas greetings, are not considered to qualify.<ref name="oirecttee21"/>
====Convene extraordinary meetings of the Oireachtas====
The president may convene a meeting of either or both Houses of the Oireachtas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html|at=Article 13 (2)|publisher=Office of the Attorney General|title=Constitution of Ireland|access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref> This power would allow the president to step in if, in extraordinary circumstances, the ordinary procedures for convening the houses had broken down.
==Selection==
{{Main|Irish presidential election}}
The president is [[direct election|directly elected]] by [[secret ballot]] using the [[instant-runoff voting]], the single-winner analogue of the [[single transferable vote]].<ref group="n">While Article 12.2.3° specifies "[[proportional representation]] by means of the single transferable vote", the Constitution Review Group and the All-Party Oireachtas Committee both recommend deleting "proportional representation", which does not apply to a single-winner election.</ref> Under the Presidential Elections Act, 1993 a candidate's election formally takes place in the form of a 'declaration' by the [[returning officer]].<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1993/en/act/pub/0028/ Presidential Elections Act, 1993] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119080457/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1993/en/act/pub/0028/ |date=19 January 2012 }} Irish Statute Book</ref> Where more than one candidate is nominated, the election is 'adjourned' so that a ballot can take place, allowing the electors to choose between candidates. A presidential election is held in time for the winner to take office the day after the end of the incumbent's seven-year term. In the event of premature vacancy, an election must be held within sixty days.<ref name="coiart12-3"/>
Only resident [[Irish nationality law|Irish citizens]] aged eighteen or more may vote; a 1983 bill to extend the right to resident [[British citizen]]s was ruled unconstitutional.<ref>[http://www.supremecourt.ie/supremecourt/sclibrary3.nsf/%28WebFiles%29/3B9009F8586D9528802575F3002DA959/$FILE/Electoral%201983_%5B1984%5D%20IR%20268.htm In the Matter of Article 26 of the Constitution and in the Matter of The Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 1983] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817220309/http://www.supremecourt.ie/supremecourt/sclibrary3.nsf/(WebFiles)/3B9009F8586D9528802575F3002DA959/$FILE/Electoral%201983_%5B1984%5D%20IR%20268.htm |date=17 August 2010 }} Supreme Court</ref>
Candidates must be Irish citizens and over 35 years old.<ref name=citizensinfo>{{cite web|url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/elections_and_referenda/national_elections/presidential_election.html|title=Presidential Election in Ireland|publisher=Citizens Information Board Ireland|access-date=30 November 2011|archive-date=28 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128223256/http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/elections_and_referenda/national_elections/presidential_election.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="coiart12-4">Constitution of Ireland: Article 12.4</ref> There is a discrepancy between the English- and Irish-language texts of Article 12.4.1°. According to the English text, an eligible candidate "has reached his thirty-fifth year of age", whereas the Irish text states "{{lang|ga|ag a bhfuil cúig bliana tríochad slán}} (has completed his thirty-five years)". Because a person's thirty-fifth year of life begins on their thirty-fourth birthday, this means there is a year's difference between the minimum ages as stated in the two texts. However, the Irish version of the subsection prevails in accordance with the rule stated in Article 25.5.4°. Various proposals have been made to amend the Constitution so as to eliminate this discrepancy.<ref>{{cite web |archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721123405/http://www.constitution.ie/publications/irish-text.pdf |url=http://www.constitution.ie/publications/irish-text.pdf |title=Bunreacht na hÉireann: A study of the Irish text |first=Micheál |last=Ó Cearúi |publisher=Stationery Office |___location=Dublin |year=1999 |pages=132–4}}</ref> The [[29th Government of Ireland|29th government]] introduced the [[Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2015|Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015]] to reduce the [[age of candidacy]] from 35 to 21, which was put to referendum in May 2015;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/government-clears-way-for-referendum-to-reduce-presidential-candidate-age-to-21-30840687.html|title=Government clears way for referendum to reduce presidential candidate age to 21|last=McConnell|first=Daniel|date=16 December 2014|work=[[Irish Independent]]|access-date=26 January 2015|archive-date=21 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721011400/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/government-clears-way-for-referendum-to-reduce-presidential-candidate-age-to-21-30840687.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=28035&&CatID=59|title=Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015 (Number 6 of 2015)|work=Bills 1997–2015|publisher=Oireachtas|access-date=26 January 2015|date=22 January 2015|archive-date=15 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215152636/http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=28035&&CatID=59|url-status=live}}</ref> the bill was heavily defeated, with approximately 73% of voters voting against.
Presidents can serve a [[term limit|maximum of two terms]], consecutive or otherwise.<ref name=irlpres/> They must be nominated by one of the following:<ref name=irlpres>{{cite web | title =Office of the President | publisher =president.ie | year =2005 | url =http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=15&lang=eng | access-date =11 August 2007 | archive-date =8 August 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070808025457/http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=15&lang=eng | url-status =live }}</ref>
* At least 20 members of the Houses of the [[Oireachtas]];<ref name="coiart12-4"/> (there are 234 members)
* At least four [[Local government in the Republic of Ireland|county or city councils]]<ref name="coiart12-4"/> (there are 31 councils)
* Themselves (in the case of incumbent or former presidents who have served one term).<ref name="coiart12-4"/>
Where only one candidate is nominated, the candidate is deemed elected without the need for a ballot.<ref name="coiart12-4"/> For this reason, where there is a consensus among political parties not to have a contest, the president may be 'elected' without the occurrence of an actual ballot. Since the establishment of the office this has occurred on six occasions.
The [[2018 Irish presidential election|most recent presidential election]] was held on 26 October 2018.
==Absence of a president==
{{main|Presidential Commission (Ireland)}}
{{Presidential orders of succession}}
There is no office of [[vice president]] of Ireland. In the event of a premature vacancy in the presidency, a successor must be elected within sixty days. In a vacancy or where the president is unavailable, the duties and functions of the office are carried out by a Presidential Commission, consisting of the [[Chief Justice of Ireland|chief justice]], the [[Ceann Comhairle|ceann comhairle]] (speaker) of the Dáil, and the [[cathaoirleach]] (chairperson) of the Seanad. Routine functions, such as signing bills into law, have often been fulfilled by the Presidential Commission when the president is abroad on a [[state visit]]. The Government's power to prevent the president leaving the state is relevant in aligning the diplomatic and legislative calendars.
Technically each president's term of office expires at midnight on the day before the new president's inauguration.<ref name="article 12">{{cite web|title=Constitution of Ireland|url=http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Historical_Information/The_Constitution/|access-date=13 May 2014|quote=Article 12 of the Constitution of Ireland defines the exact duration of the president's term of office (date information italicised for the purpose of this footnote): ''''Article 12.3.1:''' The president shall hold office for seven years ''from the date upon which he enters upon his office'', unless before the expiration of that period he dies, or resigns, or is removed from office, or becomes permanently incapacitated, such incapacity being established to the satisfaction of the Supreme Court consisting of not less than five judges.' Also, ''''Article 12.7:''' The first president shall enter upon his office as soon as may be after his election, and every subsequent ''president shall enter upon his office on the day following the expiration of the term of office of his predecessor'' or as soon as may be thereafter or, in the event of his predecessor's removal from office, death, resignation, or permanent incapacity established as provided by section 3 hereof, as soon as may be after the election.'|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626184808/http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Historical_Information/The_Constitution/|url-status=live}}</ref> Therefore, between midnight and the inauguration the following day the presidential duties and functions are carried out by the Presidential Commission. The constitution also empowers the Council of State, acting by a majority of its members, to "make such provision as to them may seem meet" for the exercise of the duties of the president in any contingency the constitution does not foresee. However, to date, it has never been necessary for the Council to take up this role. Although an outgoing president who has been re-elected is usually described in the media as "president" before the taking of the Declaration of Office, that is actually incorrect. Technically, the outgoing president is a ''former'' president and, if re-elected, ''president-elect''.
Vacancies in the presidency have occurred three times: on the death in office of [[Erskine Hamilton Childers]] in 1974, and on the resignations of [[Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh]] in 1976 and [[Mary Robinson]] in 1997.
==Official residence, salute, style and address==
[[File:Áras an Uachtaráin 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Áras an Uachtaráin]] is the official residence of the president.]]
The official residence of the president is [[Áras an Uachtaráin]], located in the [[Phoenix Park]] in Dublin. The ninety-two-room building formerly served as the 'out-of-season' residence of the Irish [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland|Lord Lieutenant]] and the residence of two of the three Irish [[Governor-General of the Irish Free State|Governors-General]]: [[Timothy Michael Healy|Tim Healy]] and [[James McNeill]]. The president is normally referred to as 'President' or 'Uachtarán', rather than 'Mr/Madam President' or similar forms. The [[Style (manner of address)|style]] used is normally ''His Excellency/Her Excellency'' ({{langx|ga|A Shoilse/A Soilse}}); sometimes people may orally address the president as 'Your Excellency' ({{langx|ga|A Shoilse}} {{IPA|ga|ə ˈhəil̠ʲʃə|}}), or simply 'President' ({{langx|ga|A Uachtaráin}} {{IPA|ga|ə ˈuəxt̪ˠəɾˠaːnʲ|}} ([[vocative case]])). The [[Presidential Salute]] is taken from the National Anthem, "{{lang|ga|[[Amhrán na bhFiann]]|italic=no}}". It consists of the first four bars followed by the last five,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taoiseach.ie/eng/Historical_Information/The_National_Anthem/|title=National Anthem|publisher=[[Department of the Taoiseach]]|access-date=1 September 2013|archive-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609190315/http://www.taoiseach.ie/eng/Historical_Information/The_National_Anthem|url-status=dead}}</ref> without lyrics.
==Inauguration==
{{main|Irish presidential inauguration}}
The inauguration ceremony takes place on the day following the expiry of the term of office of the preceding president.<ref>Irish Constitution, Article 12.7</ref> No ___location is specified in the constitution, but all inaugurations have taken place in [[Dublin Castle#State Apartments|Saint Patrick's Hall]] in the State Apartments in [[Dublin Castle]]. The ceremony is transmitted live by national broadcaster [[RTÉ]] on its principal television and radio channels, typically from around 11 am. To highlight the significance of the event, all key figures in the executive (the [[government of Ireland]]), the legislature (Oireachtas) and the judiciary attend, as do members of the [[diplomatic corps]] and other invited guests.
During the period of the [[Irish Free State]] (1922 to 1937), the [[Governor-General of the Irish Free State|governor-general]] had been installed into office as the representative of [[the Crown]] in a low-key ceremony, twice in [[Leinster House]] (the seat of the [[Oireachtas]]), but in the case of the last governor-general, [[Domhnall Ua Buachalla]], in his brother's [[drawing room]]. By contrast, the [[Constitution of Ireland]] adopted in 1937 requires the president's oath of office be taken in public.
==Impeachment and removal from office==
The president can be removed from office in two ways, neither of which has ever been invoked. The Supreme Court, in a sitting of at least five judges, may find the president "permanently incapacitated",<ref name="coiart12-3"/> while the Oireachtas may remove the president for "stated misbehaviour".<ref name="coiart12-10">Constitution of Ireland: Article 12.10</ref> Either house of the Oireachtas may instigate the latter process by passing an [[impeachment]] resolution, provided at least thirty members move it and at least two-thirds support it. The other house will then either investigate the stated charges or commission a body to do so; following which at least two-thirds of members must agree both that the president is guilty and that the charges warrant removal.<ref name="coiart12-10"/>
==Security and transport==
[[File:Seán T. O'Kelly being escorted to his inauguration as President of Ireland in 1945.jpg|thumb|The Inauguration of Seán T. O'Kelly in 1945. The 2nd Cavalry Squadron of the [[Blue Hussars]] escort the president, who travelled in the late [[Alexandra of Denmark|Queen Alexandra]]'s [[Landau (automobile)|landau]]. The Landau and the Hussars were later scrapped.]]
As head of state of Ireland, the president receives the highest level of protection in the state. Áras an Uachtaráin is protected by armed guards from the [[Garda Síochána]] and [[Defence Forces (Ireland)|Defence Forces]] at all times, and is encircled by security fencing and intrusion detection systems. At all times the president travels with an armed security detail in Ireland and overseas, which is provided by the [[Special Detective Unit]] (SDU), an elite wing of the Irish police force. Protection is increased if there is a known threat. The presidential limousine is a [[Mercedes-Benz S-Class]] LWB. The Presidential Limousine is dark navy blue and carries the presidential standard on the left front wing and the [[Flag of Ireland|tricolour]] on the right front wing. When travelling the presidential limousine is always accompanied by support cars (normally [[BMW 5 Series]], [[Audi A6]] and [[Volvo S60]] driven by trained drivers from the SDU) and several Garda motorcycle outriders from the [[Garda Traffic Corps]] which form a protective convoy around the car.
The president-elect is usually escorted to and from the ceremony by the Presidential Motorcycle Escort ceremonial outriders. Until 1947 they were a [[cavalry]] mounted escort, wearing light blue hussar-style uniforms. However to save money the first Inter-Party Government replaced the Irish horses by Japanese motorbikes, which the then Minister for Defence believed would be "much more impressive".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263692786_The_Prehistory_of_the_Irish_Presidency |title=The Prehistory of the Irish Presidency |doi=10.1080/07907184.2012.734447}}</ref>
At the presidential inauguration in 1945, alongside the mounted escort on horseback, president-elect [[Seán T. O'Kelly]] rode in the old state landau of [[Alexandra of Denmark|Queen Alexandra]]. The use of the [[state carriage]] was highly popular with crowds. However an accident with a later presidential carriage at the [[Royal Dublin Society]] [[Horse show]] led to the abolition of the carriage and its replacement by a [[Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith]] in 1947. The distinctive [[Presidential State Car (Ireland)|1947 Rolls-Royce]] is still used to bring the president to and from the inauguration today.
The president also has the full use of all [[Air Corps (Ireland)|Irish Air Corps]] aircraft at his/her disposal if so needed, including helicopters and private jets.
==History==
The office of president was established in 1937, in part as a replacement for the office of [[Governor-General of the Irish Free State|governor-general]] that existed during the 1922–37 [[Irish Free State]]. The seven-year term of office of the president was inspired by that of the [[president of Germany (1919–1945)|presidents of Weimar Germany]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Law Society of Ireland Gazette |url=https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2022/july/constitution-deeply-influenced-by-weimar-germany--hogan/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=www.lawsociety.ie}}</ref> At the time the office was established critics warned that the post might lead to the emergence of a dictatorship. However, these fears were not borne out as successive presidents played a limited, largely apolitical role in national affairs.
===Head of state from 1937 to 1949===
{{Main|Irish head of state from 1922 to 1949}}
During the period of 1937 to 1949 it was unclear whether the Irish head of state was actually the president of Ireland or [[George VI]], the [[Monarchy in the Irish Free State|king of Ireland]]. This period of confusion ended in 1949 when the state was declared to be a [[republic]]. The 1937 constitution did not mention the king, but neither did it state that the president was head of state, saying rather that the president "shall take precedence over all other persons in the State". The president exercised some powers that could be exercised by heads of state but which could also be exercised by governors or governors-general, such as appointing the government and promulgating the law.
However, upon his accession to the throne in 1936, George VI had been proclaimed, as previous monarchs had been, "King of Ireland"<ref>{{cite journal |title=Accession Proclamation of King George VI |journal=The London Gazette |date=12 December 1936 |issue=34349 |pages=8109–8112 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34349/data.pdf |access-date=12 March 2021 |archive-date=6 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706151749/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34349/data.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Proclamations of Accession of English and British Sovereigns (1547-1952) |url=https://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/brit-proclamations.htm#George6 |website=Heraldica |access-date=12 March 2021 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226184501/https://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/brit-proclamations.htm#George6 |url-status=live }}</ref> and, under the [[Executive Authority (External Relations) Act 1936|External Relations Act]] of the same year, it was this king who represented the state in its foreign affairs. Treaties, therefore, were signed in the name of the King of Ireland, who also accredited ambassadors and received the letters of credence of foreign diplomats. This role meant, in any case, that George VI was the Irish head of state in the eyes of foreign nations. The [[Republic of Ireland Act 1948]], which came into force in April 1949, proclaimed a republic and transferred the role of representing the state abroad from the monarch to the president. No change was made to the constitution.
According to Desmond Oulton (owner of [[Clontarf Castle]]), his father John George Oulton had suggested to [[Éamon de Valera]] towards the end of the [[Irish Free State]], that Ireland should have its own king again, as it was in the times of [[Gaelic Ireland]].<ref name="ok">{{Harvnb|O'Keeffe|2013|pp=21}}</ref> He suggested to him, a member of the [[O'Brien Clan]], descended in the paternal line from [[Brian Boru]], a previous [[High King of Ireland]]: the most senior representative at the time was [[Donough O'Brien, 16th Baron Inchiquin]].<ref name="ok"/> Oulton said that Donough's nephew [[Conor O'Brien, 18th Baron Inchiquin]], confirmed that De Valera did offer Donough O'Brien the title of Prince-President of the Irish Republic, but this was turned down and so a President of Ireland was instituted instead.<ref name="ok"/>
===Evolving role===
After the inaugural presidency of [[Douglas Hyde]], who was an interparty nominee for the office, the nominees of the [[Fianna Fáil]] political party won every presidential election until 1990. The party traditionally used the nomination as a reward for its most senior and prominent members, such as party founder and longtime Taoiseach [[Éamon de Valera]] and [[European Commissioner]] [[Patrick Hillery]]. Most of its occupants to that time followed Hyde's precedent-setting conception of the presidency as a conservative, low-key institution that used its ceremonial prestige and few discretionary powers sparingly. In fact, the presidency was such a quiet position that Irish politicians sought to avoid contested presidential elections as often as possible, feeling that the attention such elections would bring to the office was an unnecessary distraction,<ref name=uachtarainmcaleese>{{cite video |people=Diarmaid Ferriter |date=2007 |title=Uachtaráin – Mary McAleese |url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1826707783014013023# |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629121637/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1826707783014013023 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2011 |medium=Television production |language=Irish |publisher=TG4 |___location=Dublin, Ireland |access-date=5 January 2011 }}</ref> and office-seekers facing economic austerity would often suggest the elimination of the office as a money-saving measure.<ref name=uachtarainrobinson>{{cite video |people=Diarmaid Ferriter |date=2007 |title=Uachtaráin – Mary Robinson |url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1826707783014013023# |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629121637/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1826707783014013023 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2011 |medium=Television production |language=Irish |publisher=TG4 |___location=Dublin, Ireland |access-date=5 January 2011 }}</ref>
Despite the historical meekness of the presidency, however, it has been at the centre of some high-profile controversies. In particular, the fifth president, [[Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh]], faced a contentious dispute with the government in 1976 over the signing of a bill declaring a state of emergency, which ended in Ó Dálaigh's resignation. His successor, Patrick Hillery, was also involved in a controversy in 1982, when then-Taoiseach [[Garret FitzGerald]] requested a dissolution of the [[Dáil Éireann]]. Hillery was bombarded with phone calls from opposition members urging him to refuse the request, an action that Hillery saw as highly inappropriate interference with the president's constitutional role and resisted the political pressure.
The presidency began to be transformed in the 1990s. Hillery's conduct regarding the dissolution affair in 1982 came to light in 1990, imbuing the office with a new sense of dignity and stability. However, it was Hillery's successor, seventh president [[Mary Robinson]], who ultimately revolutionized the presidency. The winner of an upset victory in the highly controversial election of 1990, Robinson was the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour]] nominee, the first president to defeat Fianna Fáil in an election and the first female president. Upon election, however, Robinson took steps to de-politicize the office. She also sought to widen the scope of the presidency, developing new economic, political and cultural links between the state and other countries and cultures, especially those of the [[Irish diaspora]]. Robinson used the prestige of the office to activist ends, placing emphasis during her presidency on the needs of developing countries, linking the history of the [[Great Irish Famine]] to today's nutrition, poverty and policy issues, attempting to create a bridge of partnership between developed and developing countries.<ref name=uachtarainrobinson /> Since 2019 the President has attended annual meetings of the [[Arraiolos Group]] of European non-executive presidents.
===Remuneration and expenses===
After the [[2018 Irish presidential election|2018 presidential election]] the official salary or "personal remuneration" of the president will be [[Euro|€]]249,014.<ref name="higgins2011salary">{{cite press release|url=http://www.president.ie/en/media-library/news-releases/statement-from-president-michael-d.-higgins-regarding-voluntary-salary-redu|title=Statement from President Michael D. Higgins Regarding Voluntary Salary Reduction|date=1 December 2011|publisher=Office of the President|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329201433/http://www.president.ie/en/media-library/news-releases/statement-from-president-michael-d.-higgins-regarding-voluntary-salary-redu|url-status=live}}</ref> The incumbent, Michael D. Higgins, chooses to receive the same salary although he is entitled to a higher figure of €325,507.<ref name="thejournal_266916"/><ref name="higgins2011salary"/> The president's total "emoluments and allowances" includes an additional €317,434 for expenses.<ref>€317,434 = IR£250,000 specified by {{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1998/si/67/made/en/print|title=S.I. No. 67/1998 – Presidential Establishment Act, 1938 (Increase of Emoluments and Allowances) Order, 1998|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-date=30 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330012202/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1998/si/67/made/en/print|url-status=live}}</ref> The Office of the President's total budget estimate for 2017 was €3.9 million, of which €2.6 million was for pay and running costs, and the balance for the [[Centenarian#United Kingdom and Ireland|"President's Bounty" paid to centenarians]] on their hundredth birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?gid=2017-02-16a.874|title=Estimates for Public Services 2017 Vote 1 – President's Establishment (Revised)|last=Kenny|first=Enda|author2=Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform|date=16 February 2017|work=Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees|publisher=KildareStreet.com|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-date=23 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523012118/https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?gid=2017-02-16a.874|url-status=live}}</ref>
The salary was fixed at [[Irish pound|IR£]]5000 from 1938 to 1973, since when it has been calculated as 10% greater than that of the [[Chief Justice of Ireland|Chief Justice]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1938/act/24/section/1/enacted/en/html#sec1|title=Presidential Establishment Act, 1938, Section 1|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-date=30 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330012224/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1938/act/24/section/1/enacted/en/html#sec1|url-status=live}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1973/act/18/section/2/enacted/en/html#sec2|title=Presidential Establishment (Amendment) Act, 1973, Section 2|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329184419/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1973/act/18/section/2/enacted/en/html#sec2|url-status=live}}</ref> After the [[post-2008 Irish economic downturn]] most public-sector workers took significant pay cuts, but the Constitution prohibited a reduction in the salary of the president and the [[Judiciary of the Republic of Ireland|judiciary]] during their terms of office, in order to prevent such a reduction being used by the government to apply political pressure on them. While [[Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|a 2011 Constitutional amendment]] allows judges' pay to be cut, it did not extend to the president, although incumbent Mary McAleese offered to take a voluntary cut in solidarity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aji.ie/the-judiciary/judicial-remuneration/|title=Judicial Remuneration|publisher=Association of Judges in Ireland|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114014315/https://aji.ie/the-judiciary/judicial-remuneration/|url-status=live}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2011/act/39/section/12/enacted/en/html|title=Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Act 2011, Section 12(2)|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329184443/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2011/act/39/section/12/enacted/en/html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thejournal_266916">{{cite web|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/higher-or-lower-how-does-michael-ds-new-salary-compare-to-other-heads-of-state-266916-Oct2011/|title=Higher or lower: how does Michael D's new salary compare to other heads of state?|work=[[TheJournal.ie]]|date=29 October 2011 |publisher=29 October 2011|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-date=30 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030172526/http://www.thejournal.ie/higher-or-lower-how-does-michael-ds-new-salary-compare-to-other-heads-of-state-266916-Oct2011/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Issues of controversy==
===Role of the president in relation to Northern Ireland===
{{See also|Names of the Irish state|Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of Ireland}}
[[File:President wreath.JPG|thumb|The president's wreath (in green) laid at Ireland's [[Remembrance Day]] ceremonies in [[St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin|St. Patrick's Cathedral]] in 2005. Presidents have attended the ceremony since the 1990s.]]
The text of the Constitution of Ireland, as originally enacted in 1937, made reference in its [[Articles 2 and 3]] to two geopolitical entities: a thirty-two county 'national territory' (i.e., the island of [[Ireland]]), and a twenty-six county 'state' formerly known as the [[Irish Free State]]. The implication behind the title 'president of Ireland' was that the president would function as the head of all Ireland. However, this implication was challenged by the [[Ulster Unionists]] and the [[United Kingdom|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]] which was the state internationally acknowledged as having sovereignty over [[Northern Ireland]]. Articles 2 and 3 were substantially amended in consequence of the 1998 [[Good Friday Agreement]].
Ireland in turn challenged the proclamation in the United Kingdom of [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1952 as '[Queen] of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. The Irish government refused to attend royal functions as a result; for example, [[Patrick Hillery]] declined on government advice to attend the wedding of the [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Prince of Wales]] to [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Lady Diana Spencer]] in 1981, to which he had been invited by Queen Elizabeth, just as [[Seán T. O'Kelly]] had declined on government advice to attend the 1953 Coronation Garden Party at the British Embassy in Dublin. Britain in turn insisted on referring to the president as 'president of the Republic of Ireland' or 'president of the Irish Republic'.<ref group="n">The office of "[[President of the Irish Republic]]" existed in the separatist [[Irish Republic]] of 1919–21.</ref> Letters of Credence from Queen Elizabeth, on the [[British government]]'s advice, appointing United Kingdom ambassadors to Ireland were not addressed to the 'president of Ireland' but to the president personally (for example: 'President Hillery').
The naming dispute and consequent avoidance of contact at head of state level has gradually thawed since 1990. President Robinson (1990–97) chose unilaterally to break the taboo by regularly visiting the United Kingdom for public functions, frequently in connection with [[Anglo-Irish Relations]] or to visit the Irish emigrant community in Great Britain. In another breaking of precedent, she accepted an invitation to [[Buckingham Palace]] by Queen Elizabeth II. Palace accreditation supplied to journalists referred to the "visit of the president of Ireland".{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} Between 1990 and 2010, both Robinson and her successor President McAleese (1997–2011) visited the Palace on numerous occasions, while senior members of the British royal family – the then-Prince of Wales (now [[Charles III]]); [[Prince Andrew, Duke of York|the Duke of York]]; [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Edward, then Earl of Wessex]]; and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] – all visited both presidents of Ireland at [[Áras an Uachtaráin]]. The presidents also attended functions with [[Anne, Princess Royal|the Princess Royal]]. President Robinson jointly hosted a reception with the queen at [[St. James's Palace]], London, in 1995, to commemorate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the Queen's Colleges in 1845 (the Queen's Colleges are now known as [[Queen's University Belfast]], [[University College Cork]], and the [[University of Galway]]). These contacts eventually led to [[Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland|a state visit]] of [[Elizabeth II]] to Ireland in 2011.
Though the president's title implicitly asserted authority in Northern Ireland, in reality the Irish president needed government permission to visit there. (The Constitution of Ireland in Article 3 explicitly stated that "[p]ending the re-integration of the national territory" the authority of the Irish state did not extend to Northern Ireland. Presidents prior to the presidency of Mary Robinson were regularly refused permission by the Irish government to visit Northern Ireland.)
However, since the 1990s and in particular since the [[Good Friday Agreement]] of 1998, the president has regularly visited Northern Ireland. President McAleese, who was the first president to have been born in Northern Ireland, continued on from President Robinson in this regard. In a sign of the warmth of modern British-Irish relations, she has even been warmly welcomed by most leading [[Unionists (Ireland)|unionists]]. At the funeral for a child [[Omagh bombing|murdered by the Real IRA]] in [[Omagh]] she symbolically walked up the main aisle of the [[church (building)|church]] hand-in-hand with the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] leader and then [[First Minister of Northern Ireland]], [[David Trimble]]. But in other instances, Mary McAleese had been criticised for certain comments, such as a reference to the way in which Protestant children in Northern Ireland had been brought up to hate Catholics just as German children had been encouraged to hate [[Jews]] under the [[Nazi]] regime, on 27 January 2005, following her attendance at the ceremony commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of [[Auschwitz concentration camp]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4214263.stm | work=BBC News | title=McAleese row over Nazi comments | date=28 January 2005 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-date=29 June 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629101055/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4214263.stm | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/2005/01/27/story186673.html |title=BreakingNews.ie: Archives :2005-01-27 |access-date=1 September 2007 |archive-date=24 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824232409/http://www.breakingnews.ie/2005/01/27/story186673.html |url-status=live }}</ref> These remarks caused outrage among Northern Ireland's unionist politicians, and McAleese later apologised<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4217545.stm | work=BBC News | title=McAleese 'sorry' over Nazi remark | date=29 January 2005 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-date=20 February 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220210713/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4217545.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> and conceded that her statement had been unbalanced.
===Suggestions for reform===
There have been many suggestions for reforming the office of president over the years. In 1996, the Constitutional Review Group recommended that the office of President should remain largely unchanged. However, it suggested that the Constitution should be amended to explicitly declare the president to be head of state (at present that term does not appear in the text), and that consideration be given to the introduction of a [[constructive vote of no confidence]] system in the Dáil, along the lines of that in Germany. If this system were introduced then the power of the president to refuse a Dáil dissolution would be largely redundant and could be taken away. The All-party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution's 1998 Report made similar recommendations.
In an October 2009 poll, concerning support for various potential candidates in the [[2011 Irish presidential election|2011 presidential election]] conducted by the ''[[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|Sunday Independent]]'', a "significant number" of people were said to feel that the presidency is a waste of money and should be abolished.<ref name=SI_200091011>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/womans-place-is-still-in-the-aras-poll-26572771.html |title=Woman's place is still in the Aras – poll |last=Reilly |first=Jerome |date=11 October 2009 |work=[[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|Sunday Independent]] |access-date=31 March 2018 |archive-date=1 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401081311/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/womans-place-is-still-in-the-aras-poll-26572771.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==List of presidents of Ireland==
The functions of the president were exercised by the [[Presidential Commission (Ireland)|Presidential Commission]] from the coming into force of the Constitution on 29 December 1937 until the election of Douglas Hyde in 1938, and during the vacancies of 1974, 1976, and 1997.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Name<br />{{small|(birth–death)}}
! rowspan=2| Previous service
! colspan=3| Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2| Nominated by
! rowspan=2| Election
|-
! Took office (00:00)
! Left office (24:00)
! Time in office
|-
|rowspan=2|1
|rowspan=2|{{CSS image crop|Image=Douglas Hyde, circa 1940.jpg|bSize = 60|cWidth = 60|cHeight = 80|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
|rowspan=2|[[Douglas Hyde]]<br/>{{small|(1860–1949)}}
|rowspan=2|[[Seanad Éireann|Senator]]<br/>{{small|(1922–1925, 1938)}}
|rowspan=2|25 June 1938
|rowspan=2|24 June 1945
| rowspan=2| 7 years
! style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Fianna Fáil]]
|rowspan=2|[[1938 Irish presidential election|1938]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Fine Gael}}" |
|[[Fine Gael]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2
|rowspan=2|{{CSS image crop|Image=Sean T O'Kelly, 1949.jpg|bSize = 60|cWidth = 60|cHeight = 80|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
|rowspan=2|[[Seán T. O'Kelly]]<br/>{{small|(1882–1966)}}
|rowspan=2|[[Tánaiste]]<br/>{{small|(1932–1945)}}
|rowspan=2|25 June 1945
|rowspan=2|24 June 1959
| rowspan=2| 14 years
! style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Fianna Fáil]]
|[[1945 Irish presidential election|1945]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |
|Himself
|[[1952 Irish presidential election|1952]]
|-
|rowspan=2|3
|rowspan=2|{{CSS image crop|Image=Éamon de Valera, President of Ireland, in 1960s (43915959314).jpg|bSize = 60|cWidth = 60|cHeight = 80|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
|rowspan=2|[[Éamon de Valera]]<br/>{{small|(1882–1975)}}
|rowspan=2|[[Taoiseach]]<br/>{{small|(1932–1948, 1951–1954, 1957–1959)}}
|rowspan=2|25 June 1959
|rowspan=2|24 June 1973
| rowspan=2| 14 years
! rowspan="2" style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Fianna Fáil]]
|[[1959 Irish presidential election|1959]]
|-
|Himself
|[[1966 Irish presidential election|1966]]
|-
|4
|rowspan=1| <!-- DO NOT ADD A NON-FREE IMAGE FOR THIS PERSON - ONLY FREELY LICENCED IMAGES ARE ALLOWED FOR LISTS. SEE WP:NFLISTS -->
|[[Erskine Hamilton Childers]]<br/>{{small|(1905–1974)}}
|[[Tánaiste]]<br/>{{small|(1969–1973)}}
|25 June 1973
|17 November 1974
| {{ayd|25 June 1973|17 November 1974}}
! style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Fianna Fáil]]
|[[1973 Irish presidential election|1973]]
|-
|5
|rowspan=1|{{CSS image crop|Image=Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, 1975 (cropped).jpg|bSize = 60|cWidth = 60|cHeight = 80|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
|{{nowrap|[[Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh]]}}{{efn|His name is sometimes given in the alternative spelling of '''Carroll O'Daly'''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lentz |first=Harris M. |title=Heads of States and Governments Since 1945 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-134-26490-2 |___location=Hoboken, NJ |page=421}}</ref>}}<br/>{{small|(1911–1978)}}
|[[Chief Justice of Ireland]]<br/>{{small|(1961–1973)}}
|19 December 1974
|22 October 1976
| {{ayd|19 December 1974|22 October 1976}}
! style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |
|''All-party nomination''
|[[1974 Irish presidential election|1974]]
|-
|rowspan=2|6
|rowspan=2|{{CSS image crop|Image=Patrick Hillery (cropped).jpg|bSize = 60|cWidth = 60|cHeight = 80|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
|rowspan=2|[[Patrick Hillery]]<br/>{{small|(1923–2008)}}
|rowspan=2|[[European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights|European Commissioner for Social Affairs]]<br/>{{small|(1973–1976)}}
|rowspan=2|3 December 1976
|rowspan=2|2 December 1990
| rowspan=2| 14 years
! rowspan="2" style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Fianna Fáil]]
|[[1976 Irish presidential election|1976]]
|-
|Himself
|[[1983 Irish presidential election|1983]]
|-
|rowspan=3|7
|rowspan=3|{{CSS image crop|Image=Mary Robinson, May 1995 01 (cropped).jpg|bSize = 60|cWidth = 60|cHeight = 80|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
|rowspan=3|[[Mary Robinson]]<br/>{{small|(born 1944)}}
|rowspan=3|[[Seanad Éireann|Senator]]<br/>{{small|(1969–1989)}}
|rowspan=3|3 December 1990
|rowspan=3|12 September 1997
| rowspan=3| {{ayd|3 December 1990|12 September 1997}}
! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}" |
|[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]]
|rowspan=3|[[1990 Irish presidential election|1990]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Workers' Party (Ireland)}}" |
|[[Workers' Party (Ireland)|Workers' Party]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |
|[[Independent politician (Ireland)|Independent]]
|-
|rowspan=3|8
|rowspan=3|{{CSS image crop|Image=Mary McAleese, President of Ireland (cropped).jpg|bSize = 60|cWidth = 60|cHeight = 80|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
|rowspan=3|[[Mary McAleese]]<br>{{small|(born 1951)}}
|rowspan=3|Reid Professor of [[Criminal law]], [[Criminology]] and [[Penology]]<br/>at [[Trinity College Dublin]]
|rowspan=3|11 November 1997
|rowspan=3|10 November 2011
| rowspan=3| 14 years
! style="background-color: {{party color|Fianna Fáil}}" |
|[[Fianna Fáil]]
|rowspan=2|[[1997 Irish presidential election|1997]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Progressive Democrats}}" |
|[[Progressive Democrats]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |
|Herself
|[[2004 Irish presidential election|2004]]
|-
|rowspan=2|9
|rowspan=2|{{CSS image crop|Image=2022 Michael D. Higgins (51988246304) (cropped).jpg|bSize = 60|cWidth = 60|cHeight = 80|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
|rowspan=2|[[Michael D. Higgins]]<br/>{{small|(born 1941)}}
|rowspan=2|[[Minister for Children, Disability and Equality|Minister for Arts, Culture and Gaeltacht]]<br/>{{small|(1993–1997)}}
|rowspan=2|11 November 2011
|rowspan=2|Incumbent
| rowspan=2| {{ayd|11 November 2011}}
! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}}" |
|[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]]
|[[2011 Irish presidential election|2011]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician (Ireland)}}" |
|Himself
|[[2018 Irish presidential election|2018]]
|}
Former presidents who are able and willing to act are members of the [[Council of State (Ireland)|Council of State]].<ref>Constitution of Ireland: Article 31.2(ii)</ref>
==See also==
*[[President of the Irish Republic]]
*[[Gaisce – The President's Award]]
*[[Seal of the president of Ireland]]
*[[Coat of arms of Ireland#Presidential Standard|Presidential standard of Ireland]]
*[[Secretary-General to the President (Ireland)]]
*[[Warrant of appointment]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|group="n"}}
==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==Sources==
*{{cite web|title=Constitution of Ireland|publisher=Department of the Taoiseach|url=http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Historical_Information/The_Constitution/|access-date=1 September 2013}}
*{{cite book|author=Constitution Review Group |title=Report |archive-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721123405/http://www.constitution.ie/reports/crg.pdf |chapter-url=http://www.constitution.ie/reports/crg.pdf#page=19 |pages=19–28 |chapter-format=PDF |access-date=20 December 2010 |date=July 1996 |publisher=Stationery Office |___location=Dublin |chapter=Article XII – XIV: The President |url-status=dead }}
*{{cite book|author=All-party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution |title=The President |archive-date=21 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721123405/http://www.constitution.ie/reports/3rd-Report-President.pdf |url=http://www.constitution.ie/reports/3rd-Report-President.pdf |access-date=20 December 2010 |series=Progress Reports |volume=3 |year=1998 |publisher=Stationery Office |___location=Dublin |isbn=978-0-7076-6161-2 }}
* {{Citation | last1 = O'Keeffe | first1 = Jane | title =Voices from the Great Houses of Ireland: Life in the Big House: Cork and Kerry | publisher = Mercier Press | ___location = | year = 2013 | isbn = 978-1781171936}}.
==
* {{cite book|editor-last1=Coakley|editor-first1=John|editor-last2=Rafter|editor-first2=Kevin|title=The Irish Presidency: Power, Ceremony and Politics|year=2014|publisher=Irish Academic Press|isbn=9780716532033}}
** based on {{cite journal |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/fips20/27/4 |journal=Irish Political Studies |volume=27 |date=2012 |number=4 |title=The Politics of the Irish Presidency |url-access=subscription }}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Presidents of Ireland}}
*{{Official website}}
{{Presidents of Ireland}}
{{Heads of state of the European Union member states}}
{{Heads of state and government of Europe}}
{{Ireland topics}}
{{Portal bar|Ireland}}
[[Category:
[[Category:Politics of the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in the Republic of Ireland|Presidents]]
[[Category:1938 establishments in Ireland]]
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