Editing President of Ireland (section)

===Powers exercised after consultation with the Council of State===
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>

====Refer bills to the Supreme Court====
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.

====Abridge time for consideration of bills in the Seanad====
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.

====Appoint a Committee of Privileges====
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.