Who is the current President?
Catherine Connolly is the current Uachtarán na hÉireann. Voters elected her on 24 October 2025. She was inaugurated at Dublin Castle on 11 November 2025, according to RTÉ and the President of Ireland office.
She won on the first count with 914,143 first-preference votes, about 63.4%of the valid poll, defeating Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys. That is the largest first-preference total for any presidential candidate in the State's history.
Before the Áras she was an Independent TD for Galway West from 2016 to 2025 and served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle (Deputy Speaker). She worked as a barrister and clinical psychologist. Her election triggers a by-election in Galway West.
She succeeded Michael D. Higgins, who served two full terms from 2011 to 2025. Connolly is the third woman in the role after Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese.
What the President does in practice
Article 12 calls the President the head of State. The Constitution expects the office to stay above party politics. Day to day that means symbolism, diplomacy, and formal steps in the legislative process.
Signing bills into law
Article 25
No bill becomes an Act until the President signs it. That is the final step after the Dáil and Seanad pass it.
Under Article 26, the President may consult the Council of State and refer a bill to the Supreme Court. If the Court rules it unconstitutional, the President does not sign and the bill falls.
Dissolving the Dáil
Article 13.2
When a Taoiseach with a Dáil majority asks for an election, the President dissolves the Dáil.
If the Taoiseach has lost that majority, the President may refuse dissolution. TDs must then try to form a new Government without an immediate election.
Appointing the Government
Article 13.1
The President appoints the Taoiseach nominated by the Dáil and Ministers on the Taoiseach's advice. Judges and senior State officers are also appointed by the President on Government nomination.
The President does not pick the policy programme. The Dáil's numbers do.
Defence Forces: the President is Supreme Commander in title. Political control of defence rests with the Minister for Defence and the Government.
Representing the State: state visits, Áras hospitality, major national occasions. The President speaks for the country as a whole, not for a party programme.
The President is one part of the Oireachtas for law-making purposes, alongside the Dáil and Seanad. Executive power sits with the Taoiseach and Cabinet. See Taoiseach vs President for how the two offices compare.
How the President is elected
Presidential elections use PR-STV, the same preferential system as general elections. If only one candidate is nominated, no ballot is held and they are deemed elected.
To get on the ballot a candidate needs either:
- Support from at least 20 members of the Oireachtas, or
- Support from four county or city councils, or
- To be a former or outgoing President (self-nomination)
The term is seven years. A President may serve at most two terms. An election must be held within 60 days before the term ends, or within 60 days of a mid-term vacancy.
Citizens Information publishes the full rules on nomination and polling.
What DáilDex tracks instead
Presidential decisions mostly happen outside the weekly rhythm of Dáil votes. What lands in your life through legislation still flows through TDs and Senators in Leinster House.
DáilDex monitors the Oireachtas record: divisions, debates, and parliamentary questions from both Houses. Follow the TDs and Senators who vote on the Taoiseach's Government programme every sitting week.