Alan Tobin

Don’t miss this years Panto Cinderella performed by the Ashbourne Drama Society 👠🎭👗

It’s the hottest family ticket in town!

https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/cinderella-the-panto-2026-4681673

Cinderella - the panto, from Jan 2nd to Jan 11th

Cinderella THE PANTO 2026 CINDERELLA THE PANTO. Gaelscoil Na Cille, Jan 2nd,3rd,4th,9th,10th,11th, Tickets €15* plus booking fee

Gardai in Ashbourne looking for assistance with burglary investigations in Ratoath and Kilbride over the past couple of days. Anyone with info please contact Ashbourne Garda station

Last push to show your support before I bring a motion I’ve tabled to the Ashbourne Municipal District council meeting this Tuesday morning.

Presently, no more than 4 cars can park at the entrance gate, the car park at the St. Declan’s graveyard is huge so hopefully measures will be put in place to allow for public parking especially on weekends.

This cause is close to my heart - please sign:

St. Declan's Graveyard, Ashbourne - Open the gates at weekends! • Currently, the gates are locked at the weekends, the most important time for the majority of families to visit their loved ones.  • Despite there being a large car park inside, people have to park on the very busy N2 road and then have to try to cross this extremely busy road, which is re...

Tomorrow morning, we get the opportunity to vote for the next President of Ireland.

Polls open at 7am and close at 10pm.

A presidential term is 7 years and although the campaign this year was between just two candidates. It’s still important that you vote. A spoiled vote means effectively means you’re letting other make a decision without your actual input

My choice is obvious. Heather Humphreys no. 1 and if you haven’t made up mind yet, I’d ask if you would consider also giving her your first preference.

Heather understands how government and international relations work. She will be an excellent and articulate President representing all communities in the island of Ireland and will make great strides towards a shared united island.

What is the role of President and what do they do?
The formal powers and functions of the President are set out in Article 13 of the Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann. Key functions as set out in the Constitution include:

Representing the people of Ireland:
– The President represents all the people of Ireland at home and abroad through public engagements, making speeches and receiving visitors to the President’s residence Áras an Uachtarán.

Appointing of Members of Government, judges and other officials:
– The President appoints the Taoiseach, after they have been nominated by Dáil Eireann;
– The President appoints members of the Government, after they have been nominated by the Taoiseach;
– The President accepts the resignation or termination of appointment of any member of the Government, on the advice of the Taoiseach;
– Other office holders appointed by the President, on the advice of the Government, include Judges, the Attorney General, the Comptroller and Auditor General, and Commissioned officers of the Defence Forces.

Summoning and dissolving the Dáil:
– The President summons or dissolves the Dáil on the advice of the Taoiseach.
– The President can call a meeting of the Dáil or the Seanad, or both, after consultation with the Council of State.
– The President can call fresh elections where a Taoiseach no longer has the support of a majority in the Dáil.

Refusing to dissolve the Dáil
– The President may also refuse to dissolve the Dáil. In this case members of the Dáil must nominate an alternative Government.

Signing legislation into law
– Every proposed new law (Bill) which has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas (the Dáil and the Seanad) must be signed by the President before it comes into effect as a new law (Act). Each year, the Houses of the Oireachtas pass around 50 Bills.
– The President can refer Bills to the Supreme Court if there is a concern that they may be incompatible with or in conflict with the Constitution. In order to do this, the President must first consult with the Council of State.

For more information on how laws are made, you can access the Oireachtas website: Houses of the Oireachtas – How laws are made – Houses of the Oireachtas

Acting as Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces
– The President is the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces, and all Defence Force officers are therefore commissioned by the President. The President does not have military command over the Defence Forces. Under the Defence Act, 1954, the Government exercises military command through the Minister for Defence, who manages and control the Defence Forces.

The President does not have decision making or policy making functions for the State. The President’s role is prescribed by the Constitution and is a reflection of domestic values and principles (as per Baker J., Right to Know CLG v Commissioner for Environmental Information & Ors [2022] IESC 19) .