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 not at the end of that Presidential term, but rather at the beginning of the next one, which will be some weeks later if the previous President has died or resigned. [1] 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.

Contents

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. [2]

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." [3] Upon Richard Mulcahy's 1971 death, de Valera invited Fine Gael leader Liam Cosgrave to join but Cosgrave declined. [4] Fine Gael objected in 1991 that Mary Robinson had become the first President not to have the Leader of the Opposition in the Council. [5] [6] Robinson had promised to appoint two representatives of the Opposition, [7] but the practice of including the Leader was not a fixed rule. [8] 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. [9] 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". [10]

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. [8] 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". [7] 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. Patrick Hillery considered new appointees upon assuming office in 1976, and was advised there was no precedent for informing former Councillors of their exclusion; [11] Hillery decided "it would be too hurtful to drop any of the members". [12] Robinson abandoned this practice by appointing seven new members; [5] 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. [13] For his second term he appointed seven first-timers.

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. [14] This proposal attracted some criticism as tokenism, but was endorsed by Fergus Finlay. [15] 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". [16] After the victory of Labour Party candidate Michael D. Higgins, the party denied that its leader Eamon Gilmore had suggested nominees to Higgins. [17]

List

AppointeeTerm [n 1] President appointingDate appointedDate ceasedRole on appointment; notesSources
James Dillon 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 194025 June 1945? TD, initially for Fine Gael, later Independent [2] [18]
Robert Farnan 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 194025 June 1945? Senator nominated by the Taoiseach [2] [18] [19]
John Keane 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 194025 June 1945?Independent Senator. Anglo-Irish Baronet. [18]
Richard Mulcahy 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 194025 June 1945?Fine Gael TD [2] [18]
William Norton 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 194025 June 1945? Labour Party leader [2] [18]
Michael Tierney 1 Douglas Hyde 8 January 19401944Independent Senator and University College Dublin professor of Greek [2] [18] [20]
Joseph Blowick 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 194625 June 1952? Clann na Talmhan leader [21] [22]
Bernard Forbes 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 194610 September 1948Anglo-Irish, 8th Earl of Granard. Died in office. [21] [22] [23]
Richard Mulcahy 2 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 194625 June 1952?Leader of the Opposition [21] [22]
Robert Farnan 2 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 194625 June 1952? [21] [22]
Thomas Foran 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 194618 March 1951Senator nominated by the Taoiseach. Died in office. [21] [22] [24]
John Keane 2 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 194625 June 1952? [21] [22]
William Norton 2 Seán T. O'Kelly 22 August 194618 February 1948 Tánaiste, and ex officio member of the Council, after the 1948 general election. [21] [22] [25]
Seán MacEntee 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 194825 June 1952? Fianna Fáil minister. [26] [27]
Robert Farnan 3 Seán T. O'Kelly March 195325 June 1959 [19] [28] [29] [30]
John Keane 3 Seán T. O'Kelly March 195330 January 1956Died in office [29]
Seán MacEntee 2 Seán T. O'Kelly March 195323 June 1959Made Tánaiste, and ex officio member of the Council, the day before O'Kelly's term expired [28] [29] [30]
Richard Mulcahy 3 Seán T. O'Kelly March 195325 June 1959 [28] [29] [30]
William Norton 3 Seán T. O'Kelly March 19532 June 1954Tánaiste, and ex officio member of the Council, in the 1954–57 government. [29] [31]
Cecil Stafford-King-Harman 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 195625 June 1959Anglo-Irish, grandson of Edward King-Harman; owned the Rockingham Estate, now Lough Key Forest Park [32] [28] [30]
William Norton 4 Seán T. O'Kelly 195725 June 1959Tánaiste, and ex officio member of the Council, till after the 1957 general election. [31] [28] [30]
Patrick Little 1 Seán T. O'Kelly July 195725 June 1959Fianna Fáil TD [28] [30] [33]
Maurice E. Dockrell 1 Seán T. O'Kelly 1958?25 June 1959Anglo-Irish Fine Gael TD [30]
Maurice E. Dockrell 2 Éamon de Valera 23 September 195925 June 1966? [30]
Robert Farnan 4 Éamon de Valera 23 September 19597 January 1962Died in office [30] [34]
Patrick Little 2 Éamon de Valera 23 September 195916 May 1963Died in office [30] [35] [36]
Richard Mulcahy 4 Éamon de Valera 23 September 195925 June 1966? [30]
William Norton 5 Éamon de Valera 23 September 19594 December 1963Died in office [30] [36] [37]
Stephen M. O'Mara 1 Éamon de Valera 23 September 195911 November 1959Former Mayor of Limerick. Died in office. [30] [38]
Domhnall Ua Buachalla 1 Éamon de Valera 23 September 195930 October 1963Former Governor-General of the Irish Free State. Died in office. [30] [36]
James Dillon 2 Éamon de Valera March 196025 June 1966?Fine Gael Leader of the Opposition. Replaced Stephen O'Mara. [39]
Robert Briscoe 1 Éamon de Valera 196225 June 1966?Jewish Fianna Fáil TD. Replaced Robert Farnan. [40]
Brendan Corish 1 Éamon de Valera 13 January 196425 June 1966?Labour Party leader. Replaced William Norton. [36]
Honor Crowley 1 Éamon de Valera 13 January 196425 June 1966?Fianna Fáil TD [36]
Jane Dowdall 1 Éamon de Valera 13 January 196425 June 1966?Fianna Fáil former Senator and Lord Mayor of Cork [36]
Robert Briscoe 2 Éamon de Valera 13 January 196729 May 1969Died in office [40] [41]
Brendan Corish 2 Éamon de Valera 13 January 196714 March 1973Became Tánaiste, and ex-officio member of the Council, after the 1973 general election. [41] [42] [43]
James Dillon 3 Éamon de Valera 13 January 196725 June 1973? [41] [42]
Maurice E. Dockrell 3 Éamon de Valera 13 January 196725 June 1973? [41] [42]
Jane Dowdall 2 Éamon de Valera 13 January 196725 June 1973? [41] [42]
Richard Mulcahy 5 Éamon de Valera 13 January 196716 December 1971Died in office [41] [42]
Seán MacEntee 3 Éamon de Valera 16 February 196825 June 1973? [42]
Frank Aiken 1 Éamon de Valera 3 July 196925 June 1973?Fianna Fáil TD. Tánaiste, and ex officio member of the Council, till after the 1969 general election. Replaced Bob Briscoe. [42]
Albert Joseph McConnell 1 Éamon de Valera 2 January 197325 June 1973? Provost of Trinity College Dublin. Replaced Richard Mulcahy. [44]
Barry Desmond 1 Éamon de Valera 11 April 197325 June 1973Labour Party minister. Replaced Brendan Corish. [43]
Frank Aiken 2 Erskine Childers 197319 December 1974 [45]
Barry Desmond 2 Erskine Childers 197319 December 1974 [45] [46]
James Dillon 4 Erskine Childers 197319 December 1974 [45]
Maurice E. Dockrell 4 Erskine Childers 197319 December 1974 [45]
Jane Dowdall 3 Erskine Childers 197319 December 1974Died on 12 December 1974, before the newly elected President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh had appointed nominees to the Council. [45]
Seán MacEntee 4 Erskine Childers 197319 December 1974 [45]
Albert Joseph McConnell 2 Erskine Childers 197319 December 1974 [45]
Frank Aiken 3 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 19753 December 1976 [45] [47]
Barry Desmond 3 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 19753 December 1976 [45] [46] [47]
James Dillon 5 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 19753 December 1976 [45] [47]
Maurice E. Dockrell 5 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 19753 December 1976 [45] [47]
Seán MacEntee 5 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 19753 December 1976 [45] [47]
Albert Joseph McConnell 3 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 19753 December 1976 [45] [47]
Siobhán McKenna 1 Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh 2 January 19753 December 1976Actress. Replaced Jane Dowdall. [45] [47]
Frank Aiken 4 Patrick Hillery 24 March 197719 May 1983Died in office [47]
Barry Desmond 4 Patrick Hillery 24 March 19773 December 1983 [47]
James Dillon 6 Patrick Hillery 24 March 19773 December 1983 [47]
Maurice E. Dockrell 6 Patrick Hillery 24 March 19773 December 1983 [47]
Seán MacEntee 6 Patrick Hillery 24 March 19773 December 1983 [47]
Albert Joseph McConnell 4 Patrick Hillery 24 March 19773 December 1983 [47]
Siobhán McKenna 2 Patrick Hillery 24 March 19773 December 1983 [47]
Máirín Bean Uí Dhálaigh 1 Patrick Hillery June 19833 December 1983Widow of President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh. Replaced Frank Aiken. [48]
Barry Desmond 5 Patrick Hillery 16 December 19833 December 1990 [49]
James Dillon 7 Patrick Hillery 16 December 198310 February 1986Died in office [49]
Maurice E. Dockrell 7 Patrick Hillery 16 December 19839 December 1986Died in office [49]
Seán MacEntee 7 Patrick Hillery 16 December 198310 January 1984Died in office [49]
Albert Joseph McConnell 5 Patrick Hillery 16 December 19833 December 1990 [49]
Siobhán McKenna 3 Patrick Hillery 16 December 198316 November 1986Died in office [49]
Máirín Bean Uí Dhálaigh 2 Patrick Hillery 16 December 19833 December 1990 [49]
Pádraig Faulkner 1 Patrick Hillery 19843 December 1990Former Fianna Fáil minister and Ceann Comhairle. Replaced Seán MacEntee. [50]
Alan Dukes 1 Patrick Hillery 2 May 19883 December 1990Fine Gael leader of the Opposition [51]
Catherine McGuinness 1 Patrick Hillery 2 May 19883 December 1990Barrister and former Independent Senator [51] [52]
Gemma Hussey 1 Patrick Hillery 8 September 19893 December 1990Fine Gael TD [53] [54]
Monica Barnes 1 Mary Robinson 20 February 1991April 1995Fine Gael TD. Resigned to make way for Mary O'Rourke. [6] [9]
Emer Colleran 1 Mary Robinson 20 February 199111 November 1997 An Taisce [6]
Patricia O'Donovan1 Mary Robinson 20 February 199111 November 1997Trade union barrister [6]
Quintin Oliver1 Mary Robinson 20 February 199111 November 1997Director of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action [6]
Rosemarie Smith1 Mary Robinson 20 February 199111 November 1997 Irish Farmers' Association official [6]
Donal Toolan1 Mary Robinson 20 February 199111 November 1997Disabled journalist [6]
T. K. Whitaker 1 Mary Robinson 20 February 199111 November 1997Former civil servant and Senator [6]
Mary O'Rourke 1 Mary Robinson April 199511 November 1997Fianna Fáil TD. Replaced Monica Barnes. [9]
Gordon Brett1 Mary McAleese 16 December 199711 November 2004Psychologist [55] [56]
Brian Crowley 1 Mary McAleese 16 December 199711 November 2004Fianna Fáil MEP [55] [56]
Christina Carney Flynn1 Mary McAleese 16 December 199711 November 2004 Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union official [55] [56]
Ruth Curtis1 Mary McAleese 16 December 199711 November 2004 NUI Galway psychology professor [57] [55] [56]
Stanislaus Kennedy 1 Mary McAleese 16 December 199711 November 2004Nun, Focus Ireland campaigner [55] [56]
Martin Naughton 1 Mary McAleese 16 December 199711 November 2004Businessman [55] [56]
Noel Stewart1 Mary McAleese 16 December 199711 November 2004Belfast accountant [55] [56]
Harvey Bicker 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 200411 November 2011Former British Army colonel and Ulster Unionist Party councillor [58] [59]
Anastasia Crickley1 Mary McAleese 22 November 200411 November 2011Chair of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism [58] [59]
Mary Davis 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 200411 November 2011 Special Olympics activist [58] [59]
Martin Mansergh 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 200411 November 2011Fianna Fáil Senator [58] [59]
Enda Marren 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 200411 November 2011Fine Gael activist [58] [59]
Denis Moloney 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 200411 November 2011Northern Irish lawyer [58] [59]
Daráine Mulvihill 1 Mary McAleese 22 November 200411 November 2011Meningitis survivor [58] [59]
Michael Farrell 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 201211 November 2018Solicitor and human/civil rights campaigner [13] [60]
Deirdre Heenan 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 201211 November 2018 Provost and Dean of Academic Development, Magee College, University of Ulster [13] [60]
Catherine McGuinness 2 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 201211 November 2018Former Senator, Supreme Court judge and President, Law Reform Commission [13] [52] [60]
Ruairí McKiernan 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 201211 November 2018Community activist; Social entrepreneur; founder SpunOut.ie [13] [60]
Sally Mulready 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 201211 November 2018 Hackney borough councillor and advocate for Irish people in Great Britain [13] [60]
Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 201211 November 2018 Professor Emeritus, NUI Galway; Former Cathaoirleach, Údarás na Gaeltachta [13] [60]
Gerard Quinn 1 Michael D. Higgins 6 January 201211 November 2018Director, Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUI Galway [13] [60]
Cara Augustenborg 1 Michael D. Higgins 4 April 201911 November 2025 Fellow in environmental policy at University College Dublin [61]
Sinéad Burke 1 Michael D. Higgins 4 April 201911 November 2025 Disability activist [61]
Sindy Joyce 1 Michael D. Higgins 4 April 201911 November 2025 Irish Travellers' rights activist [61]
Maurice Malone1 Michael D. Higgins 4 April 201911 November 2025Chief executive of the Birmingham Irish Association [61]
Johnston McMaster1 Michael D. Higgins 4 April 201911 November 2025 Methodist minister and academic at the Irish School of Ecumenics [61] [62]
Mary Murphy1 Michael D. Higgins 4 April 201911 November 2025 Social policy academic at NUI Maynooth [61] [63]
Seán Ó Cuirreáin  [ ga ]1 Michael D. Higgins 4 April 201911 November 2025Journalist and former Coimisinéir Teanga [61]
  1. For example, a value of 3 indicates that the relevant term was the 3rd time the person had been appointed by a President to the Council of State. (A few were ex-officio members of the council on other occasions, which are not included in this count.)

See also

Sources

Citations

  1. Constitution of Ireland, Article 31.5
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hogan, Gerard (2000). "The Supreme Court and the Reference of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Bill 1940". Irish Jurist. 35: 257.
  3. Dáil debates Vol.67 col.46 Archived 2011-08-16 at the Wayback Machine
  4. UCDA P205/101 p.81
  5. 1 2 "The President's choices". The Irish Times. 21 February 1991. p. 11.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ferrie, Liam (25 February 1991). "Council of State". The Irish Emigrant. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  7. 1 2 Tynan, Maol Mhuire (27 September 1990). "Robinson wants Council of State to have new role in Presidency". The Irish Times. p. 2.
  8. 1 2 Duffy, Jim (21 February 1991). "Council of State's function is still very confined". The Irish Times. p. 9.
  9. 1 2 3 Tynan, Maol Mhuire (11 April 1995). "President, Taoiseach will discuss dispute". The Irish Times . p. 1. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  10. All-party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution (1998). "19; Council of State: additional political members". The President (PDF). Progress Reports. Vol. 3. Dublin: Stationery Office. p. 24. ISBN   0-7076-6161-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  11. UCDA P205/120 p.92
  12. UCDA P205/98 p.76
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Doyle, Kilian (6 January 2012). "Higgins unveils his seven Council of State nominees". The Irish Times . Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  14. Reilly, Gavan (17 October 2011). "Davis promises to appoint intellectually disabled person to Council of State". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  15. Finlay, Fergus (28 October 2011). "Letters: Who should sit on Council of State?". The Irish Times . Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  16. "As It Happened: Frontline Presidential Debate". RTÉ.ie . 24 October 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  17. "Gilmore did not suggest names for Council of State, says Labour". The Irish Times. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Coogan, Tim Pat (2002). The IRA . Palgrave Macmillan. pp.  137, footnote. ISBN   978-0-312-29416-8 . Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  19. 1 2 "Dr. Robert P. Farnan". Members database. Oireachtas. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  20. UCD President's Office. "Michael Tierney - President: 1947-1964". University College Dublin. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The Council of State". The Irish Times. 24 August 1946. p. 1.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "News of the week". The Irish Law Times and Solicitors' Journal. 80: 222. 1946.
  23. Dewar, Peter Beauclerk (August 2001). "Forbes; Earls of Granard". Burke's landed gentry of Great Britain: together with members of the titled and non-titled contemporary establishment. Burke's Peerage. pp. 443–4. ISBN   978-0-9711966-0-5 . Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  24. Mr. Thomas Foran Oireachtas Members Database
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  26. "Papers of Seán MacEntee (1889–1984)". University Archives. University College Dublin. Retrieved 17 November 2010. He was a long-serving member of the Council of State, being first appointed in 1948
  27. "Appointed to Council of State". The Irish Times. 19 February 1968. p. 9.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dáil debates Vol.164 col.1308 Archived 2012-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 "Appointed to Council of State". The Irish Times. 1 April 1953. p. 1.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "New members of Council of State". The Irish Times . 24 September 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  31. 1 2 "Fifteenth Dáil". Department of Taoiseach. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  32. Who's Who (121st ed.). London: Adam and Charles Black. 1969. p. 2648. ISBN   0713609435 . Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  33. "Mr Little a member of Council of State". The Irish Times . 16 July 1957. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  34. "Obituary: Dr. R. P. Farnan". The Irish Times. 8 January 1962. p. 7.
  35. "Obituary: Mr. Patrick J. Little". The Irish Times. 17 May 1963. p. 9.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Council of State". The Irish Times . 14 January 1964. p. 9. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  37. "Mr William Norton dies in Dublin". The Irish Times. 5 December 1963. p. 6.
  38. "Obituary: Mr Stephen M. O'Mara". The Irish Times. 11 November 1959. p. 7.
  39. "Appointed to Council of State". The Irish Times. 15 March 1960. p. 1.
  40. 1 2 "Bob Briscoe dies at 75". The Irish Times. 30 May 1969. p. 1.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Six new members appointed to Council of State". The Irish Times. 16 January 1967. p. 1.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1970 Dáil debates Vol.249 c.948 Archived 2012-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
  43. 1 2 "Appointed to Council of State". The Irish Times. 12 April 1973. p. 1.
  44. "T.C.D. Provost joins Council of State". The Irish Times . 3 January 1973. p. 5. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Siobhan McKenna named on Council of State". The Irish Times . 3 January 1975. p. 10. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  46. 1 2 "No Workers' Republic! Reflections on Labour and Ireland 1913 – 1967. Barry Desmond". Dublin: Watchword Limited. Archived from the original on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2010. He was a member of the Council of State from 1973 to 1991
  47. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "No change in Council of State". The Irish Times . 25 March 1977. p. 9. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  48. "Bean Ui Dhalaigh honoured". The Irish Times. 30 June 1983. p. 1.
  49. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Council of State reappointed". The Irish Times. 17 December 1983. p. 10.
  50. "Council of State to meet on Justice Bill". The Irish Times. 5 December 1984. p. 9.
  51. 1 2 "Dukes named to Council of State". The Irish Times . 3 May 1988. p. 7. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  52. 1 2 Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights. "Speaker Biographies". 2008 Conference. University College Cork. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  53. "Hussey appointed to Council of State". The Irish Times . 9 September 1989. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  54. Hussey, Gemma (1995). Ireland today. Dublin: Penguin. p. 12, fn. ISBN   978-0-14-015761-1 . Retrieved 12 November 2010. The author served on the Council of State from 1989 to 1990.
  55. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "President names seven to Council of State". The Irish Times . 17 December 1997. p. 13. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  56. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McCarthy, Justine (30 October 1999). "Keeping her own Council". Irish Independent . p. 1. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  57. Department of Psychology. "Professor Ruth Curtis". NUIG. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  58. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McKenna, Gene (23 November 2004). "Seven new members appointed to Council of State". Irish Independent . Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  59. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Council of State: Members". Office of the President. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "President appoints seven to Council of State". RTÉ News and Current Affairs . 6 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  61. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "President appoints members to Council of State" (Press release). Office of the President of Ireland. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.; "Seven new members in Irish Council of State". BBC News. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  62. "Dr Johnston McMaster". Irish School of Ecumenics. Trinity College Dublin. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  63. "Mary Murphy". Maynooth University. Retrieved 4 April 2019.