President of Ireland facts for kids
The President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann in Irish) is the official head of state for Ireland. This means they are the main representative of the country, both at home and when dealing with other nations. The President is also the supreme commander of the Irish Defence Forces, which are Ireland's armed forces.
The President's job is mostly ceremonial, like a symbol for the country. However, they also have some important powers that help protect the Irish Constitution. When using these powers, the President acts as a guardian of the Constitution. They promise to "maintain the Constitution of Ireland and uphold its laws" and to "dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland."
The President's official home and workplace is Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Presidents serve for seven years and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The people of Ireland vote directly for their President. If only one person is nominated, there is no election, and that person automatically becomes President. This has happened six times, most recently in 2004. The role of President was created by the Constitution of Ireland in 1937. The first President started in 1938. The current President is Michael D. Higgins, who was first elected on 29 October 2011 and started his term on 11 November 2011. He was re-elected for a second term on 26 October 2018.
Quick facts for kids President of Ireland |
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Presidential Standard
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Presidential Seal
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| Style | President (A Uachtaráin) or Your Excellency (A Shoilse) |
| Residence | Áras an Uachtaráin |
| Seat | Dublin, Ireland |
| Nominator | Members of the Oireachtas or local councils |
| Appointer | Direct popular vote by Instant-runoff voting |
| Term length | Seven years,
renewable once
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| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Ireland (1937) Articles 12−14 |
| Precursor |
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| Inaugural holder | Douglas Hyde |
| Formation | 25 June 1938 |
| Salary | €249,014 annually |
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Contents
President's Main Duties
Ireland has a parliamentary system of government. This means the President's role is mostly ceremonial. The President is one of three parts of the Oireachtas (Ireland's national parliament). The other two parts are Dáil Éireann (the lower house) and Seanad Éireann (the upper house).
Unlike many other countries with similar systems, the President is not the main leader of the government. That power belongs to the government (the cabinet). However, the government must keep the President informed about important decisions, both at home and abroad. Most of the President's duties are carried out following strict rules from the Constitution or advice from the government. But the President also has some special powers they can use on their own.
Key Constitutional Roles
The Constitution gives the President several important jobs:
- Appointing the Government: The President officially appoints the taoiseach (Ireland's prime minister) and other ministers. The Dáil (lower house of parliament) chooses the taoiseach, and the President must appoint that person. Other ministers are chosen by the taoiseach and approved by the Dáil. The President must appoint them without choosing someone else.
- Appointing Judges: The President appoints judges to all Irish courts. They do this based on the government's advice.
- Calling and Ending Dáil Sessions: The President can call for the Dáil to meet or end its session. This is done on the taoiseach's advice. The President can only refuse to end the Dáil if the taoiseach has lost the support of the Dáil.
- Signing Bills into Law: This is a formal duty. The President must sign bills (proposed laws) that the Dáil and Seanad have passed. They cannot stop a bill from becoming law. However, the President can send a bill to the Supreme Court to check if it follows the Constitution. If the Supreme Court says it's constitutional, the President must sign it. If it's found to be unconstitutional, the President can refuse to sign it.
- Representing Ireland Abroad: The President represents Ireland in foreign affairs, but only with the government's advice. They welcome foreign ambassadors and sign international agreements in Ireland's name. This role became official after the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 in 1949.
- Commander of Defence Forces: The President is the supreme commander of the Irish Defence Forces. This is a symbolic role, and the actual powers are used by the government.
- Granting Clemency: The President has the power to pardon people or reduce their punishments. This power is rarely used, mostly for cases where there has been a serious mistake in justice.
Other Important Roles
The President also has other duties:
- Appointing State Officials: The President appoints certain state officials, like the governor of the Central Bank of Ireland and the Ombudsman, based on government advice.
- Supporting Charities and Arts: The President is often a patron (a supporter) of many charities in Ireland. They also award the title of Saoi to important Irish artists, which is the highest honor given by the Aosdána organization.
- Patron of Gaisce: The President is the patron of Gaisce – The President's Award, a program that encourages young people to challenge themselves and develop new skills.
Rules for the President
- The President cannot leave Ireland without the government's permission.
- Any formal speech or message the President gives to the nation or to parliament must be approved by the government first. However, for other speeches, the President has the right to speak freely. By tradition, Presidents usually avoid directly criticizing the government.
Special Powers of the President
The President has some special powers that they can use on their own, or after talking with a special group called the Council of State.
Powers Used Independently
- Refusing to Dissolve the Dáil: If a taoiseach loses the support of the Dáil, they must resign unless they ask the President to dissolve the Dáil (call a new election). The President can refuse this request, which would mean the taoiseach must resign immediately. This power has never been used.
- Appointing Council of State Members: The President can appoint up to seven members to the Council of State and can remove them if they wish.
Powers After Consulting the Council of State
Before using some powers, the President must talk with the Council of State. However, the President does not have to follow their advice.
- Sending Bills to the Supreme Court: The President can send a bill to the Supreme Court to check if it is constitutional. If any part is found unconstitutional, the whole bill fails. This is the most common special power used.
- Referring Bills to the People: If a majority of the Seanad and one-third of the Dáil ask, the President can decide not to sign a bill into law until the people approve it in a referendum or after a new general election. This power has never been used.
- Addressing Parliament or the Nation: The President can speak to the Dáil or Seanad, or send a message to the nation. The government must approve the message first.
How the President is Chosen
The President is chosen by a direct vote using a system called instant-runoff voting. An election is held so that the new President can start their term the day after the current President's seven-year term ends. If the President's office becomes empty early, a new election must be held within sixty days.
To vote, you must be an Irish citizen and at least 18 years old. To become a candidate for President, you must be an Irish citizen and over 35 years old.
Presidents can serve a maximum of two terms. To be nominated as a candidate, you need support from:
- At least 20 members of the Oireachtas (parliament); OR
- At least four county or city councils; OR
- Themselves (if they are the current President or a former President who has served one term).
If only one person is nominated, they are automatically elected without a vote. This has happened six times since the office was created. The most recent presidential election was on 26 October 2018.
When There is No President
Ireland does not have a Vice President. If the President's office becomes empty early (for example, if the President dies or resigns), a new President must be elected within sixty days.
When there is no President, or if the President is away, a special group called the Presidential Commission takes over their duties. This commission includes the Chief Justice of Ireland, the Ceann Comhairle (speaker of the Dáil), and the cathaoirleach (chairperson of the Seanad). The Presidential Commission often carries out routine tasks, like signing bills, when the President is on a state visit abroad.
The President's term officially ends at midnight the day before the new President starts. So, for a few hours, the Presidential Commission handles the duties until the new President is sworn in.
The office of President has become vacant three times: when Erskine Hamilton Childers died in 1974, and when Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh resigned in 1976 and Mary Robinson resigned in 1997.
President's Home and Style
The President's official home is Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park, Dublin. This large building used to be the residence for British officials in Ireland.
The President is usually called 'President' or 'Uachtarán'. People might also address them as 'Your Excellency'. The special music played for the President, called the Presidential Salute, comes from the first and last parts of the Irish National Anthem, "Amhrán na bhFiann".
Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony is when the new President officially takes office. It happens the day after the previous President's term ends. All inaugurations have taken place in Saint Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle. The ceremony is broadcast live on TV and radio. Important people from the government, parliament, and courts attend, along with foreign diplomats and other guests.
During the ceremony, the President takes an oath in public, promising to serve the people of Ireland.
Removing the President from Office
A President can be removed from office in two ways, though neither has ever happened.
- The Supreme Court can decide the President is "permanently incapacitated" (unable to do their job) if at least five judges agree.
- The Oireachtas (parliament) can remove the President for "stated misbehaviour." One of the houses of parliament can start this process if at least thirty members propose it and two-thirds support it. The other house then investigates, and if two-thirds of its members agree the President is guilty and should be removed, the President is removed.
Security and Transport
As the head of state, the President receives the highest level of protection in Ireland. Áras an Uachtaráin is guarded by armed police and military. When the President travels, they are always accompanied by an armed security team from the Irish police force.
The President's official car is a dark navy blue Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It displays the presidential flag and the Irish flag. Support cars and police motorcycles always accompany the President's car, forming a protective convoy.
For ceremonial events, the President uses a special 1947 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith car. This car is only used for very formal occasions, like the inauguration. The President also has access to Irish Air Corps aircraft, including helicopters and private jets, if needed.
History of the Presidency
The role of President was created in 1937. It replaced the previous role of governor-general, who represented the British Crown. Some people worried that the new President might become too powerful, but this did not happen. Presidents have generally played a quiet, non-political role.
Head of State from 1937 to 1949
From 1937 to 1949, it was not entirely clear if the President of Ireland or George VI, the King of Ireland, was the true head of state. The 1937 Constitution did not say the President was head of state, but it did say the President "shall take precedence over all other persons in the State." The King still handled Ireland's foreign affairs. This confusion ended in 1949 when Ireland was declared a republic by the Republic of Ireland Act 1948. This act transferred the role of representing Ireland abroad from the King to the President.
Changing Role of the President
For many years, Presidents were usually chosen from the Fianna Fáil political party. They often kept a low profile. However, the role began to change in the 1990s.
Mary Robinson, who became President in 1990, was the first female President and the first not from Fianna Fáil. She changed the presidency by making it less political and more active. She worked to build new connections between Ireland and other countries, especially with the Irish diaspora (Irish people living abroad). President Robinson used her position to highlight global issues, like poverty, and to connect Ireland's history with current world challenges. Since 2019, the President has attended meetings with other non-executive European presidents to discuss important topics.
President's Salary
The President's official salary is €249,014 per year. The current President, Michael D. Higgins, chooses to receive this amount, even though he is entitled to a higher figure. The President also receives an additional amount for expenses. The total budget for the Office of the President in 2017 was €3.9 million.
The President's salary cannot be reduced during their term of office. This rule is in place to prevent the government from using pay cuts to put political pressure on the President.
List of Presidents of Ireland
The Presidential Commission carried out the President's duties from 1937 until Douglas Hyde was elected in 1938. It also acted during vacancies in 1974, 1976, and 1997.
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) |
Previous service | Term of office | Nominated by | Election | |||
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| Took office (00:00) | Left office (24:00) | Time in office | |||||||
| 1 |
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Douglas Hyde (1860–1949) |
Senator (1922–1925, 1938) |
25 June 1938 | 24 June 1945 | 7 years | Fianna Fáil | 1938 | |
| Fine Gael | |||||||||
| 2 |
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Seán T. O'Kelly (1882–1966) |
Tánaiste (1932–1945) |
25 June 1945 | 24 June 1959 | 14 years | Fianna Fáil | 1945 | |
| Himself | 1952 | ||||||||
| 3 |
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Éamon de Valera (1882–1975) |
Taoiseach (1932–1948, 1951–1954, 1957–1959) |
25 June 1959 | 24 June 1973 | 14 years | Fianna Fáil | 1959 | |
| Himself | 1966 | ||||||||
| 4 | Erskine Hamilton Childers (1905–1974) |
Tánaiste (1969–1973) |
25 June 1973 | 17 November 1974 | 1 year, 145 days | Fianna Fáil | 1973 | ||
| 5 |
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Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh (1911–1978) |
Chief Justice of Ireland (1961–1973) |
19 December 1974 | 22 October 1976 | 1 year, 308 days | All-party nomination | 1974 | |
| 6 |
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Patrick Hillery (1923–2008) |
European Commissioner for Social Affairs (1973–1976) |
3 December 1976 | 2 December 1990 | 14 years | Fianna Fáil | 1976 | |
| Himself | 1983 | ||||||||
| 7 |
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Mary Robinson (born 1944) |
Senator (1969–1989) |
3 December 1990 | 12 September 1997 | 6 years, 283 days | Labour Party | 1990 | |
| Workers' Party | |||||||||
| Independent | |||||||||
| 8 |
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Mary McAleese (born 1951) |
Reid Professor of Criminal law, Criminology and Penology at Trinity College Dublin |
11 November 1997 | 10 November 2011 | 14 years | Fianna Fáil | 1997 | |
| Progressive Democrats | |||||||||
| Herself | 2004 | ||||||||
| 9 |
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Michael D. Higgins (born 1941) |
Minister for Arts, Culture and Gaeltacht (1993–1997) |
11 November 2011 | Incumbent | 13 years, 292 days | Labour Party | 2011 | |
| Himself | 2018 | ||||||||
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Former Presidents who are able and willing to act are members of the Council of State.
See also
In Spanish: Presidente de Irlanda para niños
- President of the Irish Republic
- Gaisce – The President's Award
- Seal of the president of Ireland
- Presidential standard of Ireland
- Secretary-General to the President (Ireland)
- Warrant of appointment
