President Catherine Connolly has named Linda Ervine, a sister-in-law of the late Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine, as one of her seven nominations to the Council of State.
The decision was confirmed by Áras an Uachtaráin.
The Council of State provides advice, when requested, to the President on matters including whether a draft bill should be sent to the Supreme Court to examine its constitutionality.
The body includes seven individuals appointed by the sitting president, as well as the sitting taoiseach, tánaiste, chief justice, presidents of the Court of Appeal and High Court, ceann comhairle of the Dáil, cathaoirleach of the Seanad and the attorney general, as well as former presidents, taoisigh and chief justices.
Should this group decide that it also has concerns over a piece of proposed legislation, it is sent to the Supreme Court, which makes the final decision on whether the potential new law is constitutional or not, and therefore whether it should be signed into law by the President or sent back to the Dáil and Seanad.
The seven appointments made by President Connolly are: Linda Ervine, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Colin Harvey, Kathleen Lynch, Donncha O'Connell, Conor O'Mahony and Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh.
Ms Ervine is from a working-class Protestant background in east Belfast and is the manager of the first Irish language centre to be based in a loyalist area.
In 2021, she received an MBE for her work promoting the Irish language.
Professor Ní Aoláin was born in Dublin and grew up in the Conamara Gaeltacht. She is a globally recognised international law and human rights expert.
She is Professor of Law at Queen's University Belfast.
Colin Harvey is a Professor of Human Rights Law at Queen's University, a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and a member of the Scientific Committee of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency.
Kathleen Lynch is a sociologist and Professor of Equality Studies (Emerita) at University College Dublin, where she has also held a senior lectureship in education.
She served as a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission from 2020 to 2025.
Donncha O'Connell is an Established Professor of Law at University of Galway.
He served two terms as a member of the Law Reform Commission. He was also a member of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, as well as the Legal Aid Board.
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Prof O'Connell has also been a member of the Independent Review Group to consider the Offences Against the State Acts.
Conor O'Mahony is Professor of Law and Dean of the School of Law at University College Cork.
His teaching and research focuses on constitutional law and children's rights.
He has provided expert input on these topics to various Oireachtas committees, the Convention on the Constitution, the Citizens' Assembly and the Council of Europe Venice Commission.
Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh is a former president of University of Galway.
He also served as chair of Universities Ireland, encouraging cooperation between third-level institutions on the island of Ireland.
In a statement, President Connolly said: "May I thank each of the nominees who have agreed to serve as a member of the Council of State.
"These seven members bring a unique expertise and range of experience to the Council of State which will be of immense value in considering the matters which may arise over the course of my term of office.
"I look forward to receiving their advice and support over the next seven years."
Listen: 'I just fell in love with the language' - Linda Ervine
