The Constitution of Ireland: A Contextual Analysis

Abstract

Oran Doyle’s book appears in the Hart Series on Constitutional Systems of the World and covers the Constitution of Ireland up until 2018. The book continues the admirable ethos of providing introductions to constitutional systems that are concise and accessible but also sophisticated. Chapter 1 reviews the history of Ireland and the influences on constitutional developments including the partition of Ireland into the twenty-six-county Irish Free State and the six-county Northern Ireland, the adoption of the 1922 Constitution, and the adoption of the 1937 Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann). Chapter 2 examines constitutional foundations including the concepts of the people, the nation, the state, and the state’s relationship with international organizations, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland. Chapter 3 introduces the government and Parliament (Oireachtas), while Chapter 4 covers the President. Chapters 5 through 7 analyze the work of the core political institutions, including the role of legislative power, the government and public administration, and the political limits on the government. Chapters 8 and 9 provide a detailed study of the courts, their structure, and their role in protecting fundamental rights and holding the government and Parliament accountable.