It is laid down in the Irish Constitution that the Oireachtas shall consist of the President and 2 Houses, a House of Representatives (to be called Dail Eireann) and a Senate (to be called Seanad Eireann). .
In practice, the president's impact on the legislative process is not very big. However, the Constitution envisages the President as more than a ceremonial Head of State and gives him or her certain powers to act as the guardian of the Constitution.
The President is aided by the Council of State, an advisory body but normally the President acts on the advice and authority of the Government.
The current Irish President is Mary McAleese. She won the elections in 1997.
The President is elected by direct vote from the people (aged 18 years and over) for a term of 7 years, additionally the President can be re-elected only once.
By the way, there is no Vice-President. If the President dies in office or is removed, the Constitution provides for a Commission to act in the President's place. This Commission would consist of the Chief Justice, the Chairman of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Senate.
Now a few presidental functions and rights:.
First of all, the President has to sign bills before they may became laws. Presidental power to refer bills to the Supreme Court for decisions about their constitutionality, that means whether the bill contains anything repugnant to the Constitution, is rarely necessary.
The President also appoints the Prime Minister on the nomination of the House of Representatives; and the other members of the Government on the nomination of the PM after the House of Representative's approval. (=Genehmigung, Biligung).
The President can also summon and dissolve the House of Representatives on the advice of the PM. However, if the PM does not get the support of a majority in the Dáil any longer the President has the right and power to refuse to dissolve(auflÖsen) the Dáil.
