List of presidential appointees to the Council of State (Ireland)

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The President of Ireland has the right to appoint a maximum of seven members of the Council of State, which advises the President in exercising certain reserve powers. As well as the seven (or fewer) appointees, the Council has seven ex officio members and a variable number of life members by right of former office. An appointed member's term ends when the President's term ends, although a new or re-elected President may re-appoint members. If an appointed member accedes to one of the positions conferring ex officio membership of the Council, this creates a vacancy which the President may fill via another appointment.

History

The first President, Douglas Hyde, who took office in 1938, did not nominate members till the Council first met in January 1940; all six nominees were Oireachtas members, and not members of the Fianna Fáil government party.[1]

For long, Presidents included senior serving politicians on the Council. Éamon de Valera said during the 1937 debate on the proposed Constitution, "this Council of State ... will ordinarily contain the leaders of the big Parties in the Dáil."[2] Fine Gael objected in 1991 when Mary Robinson became the first President not to have the Leader of the Opposition in the Council.[3][4] Robinson had promised to appoint two representatives of the Opposition,[5] but the practice of including the Leader was not a fixed rule.[6] In early 1995, after the Fianna Fáil-led government was replaced by a Fine Gael-led government without a general election, Mary Robinson asked Monica Barnes of Fine Gael to resign from the council of state to allow Mary O'Rourke of Fianna Fáil to be appointed instead to increase the Opposition voice.[7] The Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution issued a 1998 report dealing with the Presidency, which recommended that the President be "empowered to nominate two members of the Dáil who belong to parties other than the party or parties that form the government for the life of that government".[8]

Early Presidents included one or two representatives of minorities; there were several of Anglo-Irish, Protestant, or ex-Unionist backgrounds, and the Jewish Bob Briscoe.[6] In campaigning in the 1990 presidential election, Mary Robinson promised to reform the Council of State. She criticised it for consisting "mainly of senior or retired politicians" and promised to make it "truly representative of the community as a whole".[5] Prior to 1990, Presidents generally reappointed members from the previous term; new members were appointed only when a vacancy arose by a previous appointee's death or accession to ex-officio membership. Robinson abandoned this practice by appointing seven new members;[3] Mary McAleese did likewise at both her first and second terms. Michael D. Higgins appointed six first-timers and Catherine McGuinness, who had served under Patrick Hillery.[9]

During the 2011 presidential election campaign, candidate Mary Davis, best known for her Special Olympics activism, pledged to nominate a person with intellectual disability to the Council.[10] This proposal attracted some criticism as tokenism, but was endorsed by Fergus Finlay.[11] During a debate on The Late Late Show, candidates were later asked whether they thought Denis O'Brien would be "a suitable person to be on the Council of State".[12] After the victory of Labour Party candidate Michael D. Higgins, the party denied that its leader Eamon Gilmore had suggested nominees to Higgins.[13]

List

Appointee Time[n 1] President appointing Date appointed Date ceased Role on appointment; notes References
James Dillon 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 1940 24 June 1945? TD, initially for Fine Gael, later Independent [1][14]
Robert Farnan 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 1940 24 June 1945? Senator nominated by the Taoiseach [1][14][15]
John Keane 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 1940 24 June 1945? Independent Senator. Anglo-Irish Baronet. [14]
Richard Mulcahy 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 1940 24 June 1945? Fine Gael TD [1][14]
William Norton 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 1940 24 June 1945? Labour Party leader [1][14]
Michael Tierney 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 1940 1944 Independent Senator and University College Dublin professor of Greek [1][14][16]
Joseph Blowick 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 1946 24 June 1952? Clann na Talmhan leader [17][18]
Bernard Forbes 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 1946 10 September 1948 Anglo-Irish, 8th Earl of Granard. Died in office. [17][18][19]
Richard Mulcahy 2 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 1946 24 June 1952? Leader of the Opposition [17][18]
Robert Farnan 2 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 1946 24 June 1952? [17][18]
Thomas Foran 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 1946 18 March 1951 Senator nominated by the Taoiseach. Died in office. [17][18][20]
John Keane 2 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 1946 24 June 1952? [17][18]
William Norton 2 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 1946 18 February 1948 Tánaiste, and ex officio member of the Council, after the 1948 general election. [17][18][21]
Seán MacEntee 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 1948 24 June 1952? Fianna Fáil minister. [22][23]
Robert Farnan 3 Seán T. O'Kelly March 1953 24 June 1959 [15][24][25][26]
John Keane 3 Seán T. O'Kelly March 1953 30 January 1956 Died in office [25]
Seán MacEntee 2 Seán T. O'Kelly March 1953 23 June 1959 Made Tánaiste, and ex officio member of the Council, the day before O'Kelly's term expired [24][25][26]
Richard Mulcahy 3 Seán T. O'Kelly March 1953 24 June 1959 [24][25][26]
William Norton 3 Seán T. O'Kelly March 1953 2 June 1954 Tánaiste, and ex officio member of the Council, in the 1954–57 government. [25][27]
Cecil Stafford-King-Harman 1 Seán T. O'Kelly ? 24 June 1959 Anglo-Irish, grandson of Edward King-Harman; owned the Rockingham Estate, now Lough Key Forest Park [24][26]
William Norton 4 Seán T. O'Kelly 1957 24 June 1959 Tánaiste, and ex officio member of the Council, till after the 1957 general election.[27] [24][26]
Patrick Little 1 Seán T. O'Kelly July 1957 24 June 1959 Fianna Fáil TD [24][26][28]
Maurice E. Dockrell 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 1958? 24 June 1959 Anglo-Irish Fine Gael TD [26]
Maurice E. Dockrell 2 Éamon de Valera 23 September 1959 24 June 1966? [26]
Robert Farnan 4 Éamon de Valera 23 September 1959 7 January 1962 Died in office [26][29]
Patrick Little 2 Éamon de Valera 23 September 1959 16 May 1963 Died in office [26][30][31]
Richard Mulcahy 4 Éamon de Valera 23 September 1959 24 June 1966? [26]
William Norton 5 Éamon de Valera 23 September 1959 4 December 1963 Died in office [26][31][32]
Stephen M. O'Mara 1 Éamon de Valera 23 September 1959 11 November 1959 Former Mayor of Limerick. Died in office. [26][33]
Domhnall Ua Buachalla 1 Éamon de Valera 23 September 1959 30 October 1963 Former Governor-General of the Irish Free State. Died in office. [26][31]
James Dillon 2 Éamon de Valera March 1960 24 June 1966? Fine Gael Leader of the Opposition. Replaced Stephen O'Mara. [34]
Robert Briscoe 1 Éamon de Valera 1962 24 June 1966? Jewish Fianna Fáil TD. Replaced Robert Farnan. [35]
Brendan Corish 1 Éamon de Valera 13 January 1964 24 June 1966? Labour Party leader. Replaced William Norton. [31]
Honor Crowley 1 Éamon de Valera 13 January 1964 24 June 1966? Fianna Fáil TD [31]
Jane Dowdall 1 Éamon de Valera 13 January 1964 24 June 1966? Fianna Fáil former Senator and Lord Mayor of Cork [31]
Robert Briscoe 2 Éamon de Valera 13 January 1967 29 May 1969 Died in office [35][36]
Brendan Corish 2 Éamon de Valera 13 January 1967 14 March 1973 Became Tánaiste, and ex-officio member of the Council, after the 1973 general election. [36][37][38]
James Dillon 3 Éamon de Valera 13 January 1967 24 June 1973? [36][37]
Maurice E. Dockrell 3 Éamon de Valera 13 January 1967 24 June 1973? [36][37]
Jane Dowdall 2 Éamon de Valera 13 January 1967 24 June 1973? [36][37]
Richard Mulcahy 5 Éamon de Valera 13 January 1967 16 December 1971 Died in office [36][37]
Seán MacEntee 3 Éamon de Valera 16 February 1968 24 June 1973? [37]
Frank Aiken 1 Éamon de Valera 3 July 1969 24 June 1973? Fianna Fáil TD. Tánaiste, and ex officio member of the Council, till after the 1969 general election. Replaced Bob Briscoe. [37]
Albert Joseph McConnell 1 Éamon de Valera 2 January 1973 24 June 1973? Provost of Trinity College, Dublin. Replaced Richard Mulcahy. [39]
Barry Desmond 1 Éamon de Valera 11 April 1973 24 June 1973 Labour Party minister. Replaced Brendan Corish. [38]
Frank Aiken 2 Erskine Childers 1973 17 November 1974 [40]
Barry Desmond 2 Erskine Childers 1973 17 November 1974 [40][41]
James Dillon 4 Erskine Childers 1973 17 November 1974 [40]
Maurice E. Dockrell 4 Erskine Childers 1973 17 November 1974 [40]
Jane Dowdall 3 Erskine Childers 1973 17 November 1974 Died on 12 December 1974, before the newly elected President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh had appointed nominees to the Council. [40]
Seán MacEntee 4 Erskine Childers 1973 17 November 1974 [40]
Albert Joseph McConnell 2 Erskine Childers 1973 17 November 1974 [40]
Frank Aiken 3 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 1975 22 October 1976 [40][42]
Barry Desmond 3 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 1975 22 October 1976 [40][41][42]
James Dillon 5 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 1975 22 October 1976 [40][42]
Maurice E. Dockrell 5 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 1975 22 October 1976 [40][42]
Seán MacEntee 5 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 1975 22 October 1976 [40][42]
Albert Joseph McConnell 3 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 1975 22 October 1976 [40][42]
Siobhán McKenna 1 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 1975 22 October 1976 Actress. Replaced Jane Dowdall. [40][42]
Frank Aiken 4 Patrick Hillery 24 March 1977 19 May 1983 Died in office [42]
Barry Desmond 4 Patrick Hillery 24 March 1977 2 December 1983 [42]
James Dillon 6 Patrick Hillery 24 March 1977 2 December 1983 [42]
Maurice E. Dockrell 6 Patrick Hillery 24 March 1977 2 December 1983 [42]
Seán MacEntee 6 Patrick Hillery 24 March 1977 2 December 1983 [42]
Albert Joseph McConnell 4 Patrick Hillery 24 March 1977 2 December 1983 [42]
Siobhán McKenna 2 Patrick Hillery 24 March 1977 2 December 1983 [42]
Máirín Bean Uí Dhálaigh 1 Patrick Hillery June 1983 2 December 1983 Widow of President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh. Replaced Frank Aiken. [43]
Barry Desmond 5 Patrick Hillery 16 December 1983 2 December 1990 [44]
James Dillon 7 Patrick Hillery 16 December 1983 10 February 1986 Died in office [44]
Maurice E. Dockrell 7 Patrick Hillery 16 December 1983 9 December 1986 Died in office [44]
Seán MacEntee 7 Patrick Hillery 16 December 1983 10 January 1984 Died in office [44]
Albert Joseph McConnell 5 Patrick Hillery 16 December 1983 2 December 1990 [44]
Siobhán McKenna 3 Patrick Hillery 16 December 1983 16 November 1986 Died in office [44]
Máirín Bean Uí Dhálaigh 2 Patrick Hillery 16 December 1983 2 December 1990 [44]
Pádraig Faulkner 1 Patrick Hillery 1984 2 December 1990 Former Fianna Fáil minister and Ceann Comhairle. Replaced Seán MacEntee. [45]
Alan Dukes 1 Patrick Hillery 2 May 1988 2 December 1990 Fine Gael leader of the Opposition [46]
Catherine McGuinness 1 Patrick Hillery 2 May 1988 2 December 1990 Barrister and former Independent Senator [46][47]
Gemma Hussey 1 Patrick Hillery 8 September 1989 2 December 1990 Fine Gael TD [48][49]
Monica Barnes 1 Mary Robinson 20 February 1991 April 1995 Fine Gael TD. Resigned to make way for Mary O'Rourke. [4][7]
Emer Colleran 1 Mary Robinson 20 February 1991 12 September 1997 An Taisce [4]
Patricia O'Donovan 1 Mary Robinson 20 February 1991 12 September 1997 Trade union barrister [4]
Quintin Oliver 1 Mary Robinson 20 February 1991 12 September 1997 Director of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action [4]
Rosemarie Smith 1 Mary Robinson 20 February 1991 12 September 1997 Irish Farmers' Association official [4]
Donal Toolan 1 Mary Robinson 20 February 1991 12 September 1997 Disabled journalist [4]
T. K. Whitaker 1 Mary Robinson 20 February 1991 12 September 1997 Former civil servant and Senator [4]
Mary O'Rourke 1 Mary Robinson April 1995 12 September 1997 Fianna Fáil TD. Replaced Monica Barnes. [7]
Gordon Brett 1 Mary McAleese 16 December 1997 10 November 2004 Psychologist [50][51]
Brian Crowley 1 Mary McAleese 16 December 1997 10 November 2004 Fianna Fáil MEP [50][51]
Christina Carney Flynn 1 Mary McAleese 16 December 1997 10 November 2004 Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union official [50][51]
Ruth Curtis 1 Mary McAleese 16 December 1997 10 November 2004 NUI Galway psychology professor[52] [50][51]
Stanislaus Kennedy 1 Mary McAleese 16 December 1997 10 November 2004 Nun, Focus Ireland campaigner [50][51]
Martin Naughton 1 Mary McAleese 16 December 1997 10 November 2004 Businessman [50][51]
Noel Stewart 1 Mary McAleese 16 December 1997 10 November 2004 Belfast accountant [50][51]
Harvey Bicker 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 2004 10 November 2011 Former British Army colonel and Ulster Unionist Party councillor [53][54]
Anastasia Crickley 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 2004 10 November 2011 Chair of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism [53][54]
Mary Davis 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 2004 10 November 2011 Special Olympics activist [53][54]
Martin Mansergh 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 2004 10 November 2011 Fianna Fáil Senator [53][54]
Enda Marren 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 2004 10 November 2011 Fine Gael activist [53][54]
Denis Moloney 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 2004 10 November 2011 Northern Irish lawyer [53][54]
Daráine Mulvihill 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 2004 10 November 2011 Meningitis survivor [53][54]
Michael Farrell 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 2012 Incumbent Solicitor and human/civil rights campaigner [9][55]
Deirdre Heenan 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 2012 Incumbent Provost and Dean of Academic Development, Magee College, University of Ulster [9][55]
Catherine McGuinness 2 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 2012 Incumbent Former Senator, Supreme Court judge and President, Law Reform Commission [9][47][55]
Ruairí McKiernan 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 2012 Incumbent Community activist; Social entrepreneur; founder SpunOut.ie [9][55]
Sally Mulready 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 2012 Incumbent Councillor, London Borough of Hackney [9][55]
Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 2012 Incumbent Professor Emeritus, NUI, Galway; Former Cathaoirleach, Údarás na Gaeltachta [9][55]
Gerard Quinn 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 2012 Incumbent Director, Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUI, Galway [9][55]
  1. ↑ e.g. a value of 3 indicates that the relevant date interval was the 3rd time the person was a nominee on the Council of State.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Dáil debates Vol.67 col.46
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Mr. Thomas Foran Oireachtas Members Database
  21. ↑ Dáil debates Vol.110 c.82
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Dáil debates Vol.164 col.1308
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ 26.00 26.01 26.02 26.03 26.04 26.05 26.06 26.07 26.08 26.09 26.10 26.11 26.12 26.13 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 37.6 1970 Dáil debates Vol.249 c.948
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ 40.00 40.01 40.02 40.03 40.04 40.05 40.06 40.07 40.08 40.09 40.10 40.11 40.12 40.13 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ 42.00 42.01 42.02 42.03 42.04 42.05 42.06 42.07 42.08 42.09 42.10 42.11 42.12 42.13 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 44.5 44.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 50.5 50.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 51.4 51.5 51.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 53.4 53.5 53.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 54.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 55.4 55.5 55.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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