President Connolly convenes first Council of State Meeting

On Monday, 20 April, Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly, convened a meeting of the Council of State under Article 26 of the Constitution for the purpose of hearing from the Council regarding the constitutionality of the International Protection Bill, 2026.  This was the first meeting of the Council of State since President Connolly’s inauguration in November 2025.   The Chief Justice, Mr Justice O'Donnell, the President of the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Costello, and the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Barniville, are ex officio members of the Council of State by virtue of Article 31.2 of the Irish Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann. 

 Article 26.1.1 of the Constitution states:

“The President may, after consultation with the Council of State, refer any Bill to which this Article applies to the Supreme Court for a decision on the question as to whether such Bill or any specified provision or provisions of such Bill is or are repugnant to this Constitution or to any provision thereof.”

Thus, the question put to the Council was:

“Whether the International Protection Bill 2026 should be referred by the President to the Supreme Court for a decision on the question as to whether the Bill or any specified provision or provisions thereof are repugnant to the Constitution or to any provision thereof.”

 Photo credit:  Áras an Uachtaráin