Editing President of Ireland (section)

===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. 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.

====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.

====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>