What role does the president play in running our country?

holystungun9

I have been thinking about this for a long time. I am currently living in Ecuador and the president is on the T.V. most nights...clearly the person in control of the country. I rarely see a second in command fielding questions in his place. How does our Irish system work, is Mr. Cowan alone behind the wheel? Is the president in the back seat giving advice or just looking out the window?

And before anyone asks, Ecuador doesn't have a dictatorship so that's not the reason.

Mr Benevolent

The president is a figurehead who has the power to sign bills into law. If they refuse to sign it gets handed back to the Dail for a bit of rejigging. Other then that they have no powers. They're technically the head of the military, but I don't see McAleese mobilising the army to get her new dress from BT. Unlike Harney mobilising the army to bring her lunch to Dublin Castle.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

The president isn't even in the car OP.

Like a lot of countries, the president is just a figure head with very little power. If he/she doesn't agree with something, and doesn't wish to sign off a law or whatever, that can be over turned and the law gets passed anyway, just takes a little longer. Correct me if i'm wrong here. :P

spudmonkey17

Her job entails going to the international rugby matches. Y'know the important stuff :pac:

ruthies

Out she goes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-5yik3iJH8

Turtyturd

She waves on our behalf.

Podge2k7

Represent the country abroad
Sign new bills

Ali Babba

Another waste of money methinks, we don't need a president, but WTF it's only taxpayers money.........right?

Agricola

300,000 quid for a job with no real purpose. Emm, thats the Irish way!

Overheal

What role does the president play in ruining our country?

FYP

/coat

Turtyturd

Overheal wrote: »

FYP

/coat

At least we didn't elect her a second t..i..m.....e. Never mind.:pac:

Einhard

She's patronising to, and on behalf of, the Irish people.

She's good at her job.

Degsy

She brownnoses to despots and tells jihad-happy fruitcakes that the irish people "abhor" the cartoons that dared to show mohammed.

plein de force

they go on foreign visits the other politicians don't want to go to on and basically just floats around being unimportant

our current president, judging by some of the things she goes to, would attend the opening of an envelope

Degsy

plein de force wrote: »

they go on foreign visits the other politicians don't want to go to on and basically just floats around being unimportant

our current president, judging by some of the things she goes to, would attend the opening of an envelope

She's a nordie after all..they enjoy freeloading.

aidan24326

Cannon Gorgeous Boardroom wrote: »

The president isn't even in the car OP.

Like a lot of countries, the president is just a figure head with very little power. If he/she doesn't agree with something, and doesn't wish to sign off a law or whatever, that can be over turned and the law gets passed anyway, just takes a little longer. Correct me if i'm wrong here. :P

That's only partly true. In practise yes, the President is merely a figurehead. However, the President does have a number of constitutional powers, but for some reason they are rarely excercised. It has become primarily a ceremonial role.

Seloth

The President plays a huge foreign relations role I'm sure.

As well they advise the government and Ombunsmen report to her.

Nolanger

She's there to attend international football games and jinx it e.g. Cyprus 5 Ireland 2!

Superbus

She unveiled a window at my school today.

No joke.

Ali Babba

Superbus wrote: »

She unveiled a window at my school today.

No joke.

With a bit of luck she might jump through it and save us all a small fortune!

Cool Mo D

The main power the president has, is that she can refer laws to the supreme court if she thinks they might be unconstitutional.

Otherwise, all she has to do is kiss up to foreign dignitaries, and not say anything embarrassing in public. Sweet deal if you can get it!

mailforkev

She goes to foreign countries and tells them that they have Ireland's full support in doing things that Ireland actually don't support.

mathie

Ali Babba wrote: »

With a bit of luck she might jump through it and save us all a small fortune!

This post is brought to you by the letters 'W', 'T' and 'F'.

Fago!

I shook her hand once when she came to my secondary school. It was the worst handshake ever.