President Michael D. Higgins presented the Warrants of Appointment to the incoming members of the Council of State.
The Council of State is a body created by the Constitution, with the purpose of assisting the President.
Article 31 of the Constitution provides that ‘there shall be a Council of State to aid and counsel the President on all matters on which the President may consult the said Council in relation to the exercise and performance by him of such of his powers and functions as are conferred on the said Council by the Constitution.’
The Constitution requires that every member of the Council of State shall at the first meeting which s/he attends as a member take and subscribe a declaration in the following form: “In the presence of Almighty God, I (name) do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfil my duties as a member of the Council of State.”
