Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1937

What is this act about?

This law makes various provisions that are a consequence of or related to the new Constitution of Ireland coming into effect. It ensures a smooth transition from the old legal framework to the new one.

Who it applies to: Anyone affected by statutes and statutory instruments that were in force before the new Constitution and continue to be in force; Government officials and departments, particularly those whose titles or functions are changing due to the new Constitution.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Constitutional law and human rights
Articles: 14
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

How the terms "Saorstát Eireann" and "Irish Free State" are to be understood in existing laws.
The change in name and function from the President of the Executive Council and his Department to the Taoiseach and the Department of the Taoiseach.
The general adaptation of references to officials, bodies, and governmental authorities from the old Constitution to the new one.
The power of the Government to make specific changes to laws to align them with the new Constitution.

Who does this act apply to?

Anyone affected by statutes and statutory instruments that were in force before the new Constitution and continue to be in force.
Government officials and departments, particularly those whose titles or functions are changing due to the new Constitution.

What are the key points?

The Act came into operation immediately after the Constitution of Ireland.
References to "Saorstát Eireann" and "Irish Free State" in existing laws are to be understood as "Ireland" for events occurring after the Constitution came into effect.
The Department of the President of the Executive Council is now called the Department of the Taoiseach, and the Taoiseach is its head.
The Taoiseach will decide any questions about which new official or body corresponds to an old one.
The Government can make specific orders to adapt existing laws to the new Constitution, and these orders can override general adaptations made by this Act.

Constitutional law and human rights

Constitution of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) Act, 1922

Treaty (Confirmation of Amending Agreement) Act, 1925

Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1927

Electoral (Seanad Elections) Act, 1925

Referendum (Amendment) Act, 1983

Referendum (Amendment) Act, 1984

Oireachtas (Payment of Members) Act, 1933

Constitutional law and human rights

Legal text

Contents (14)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10
Section 11
Section 12
Section 13
Section 14

Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1937 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1937 Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1937 Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1937 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 40 of 1937.

CONSTITUTION (CONSEQUENTIAL PROVISIONS) ACT, 1937.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Commencement.

Section 2

General adaptation of the expressions “Saorstát Eireann” and “Irish Free State”.

Section 3

Adaptation of references to the President of the Executive Council and his Department.

Section 4

General adaptation of references to officials and authorities.

Section 5

Power of the Government to make special adaptations and modifications.

Section 6

The Central Fund and the Exchequer.

Section 7

Consequential provisions in respect of the Central Fund.

Section 8

The seal of the Government.

Section 9

Temporary user of existing official seals.

Section 10

Revivor of enactments relating to Seanad Eireann.

Section 11

Adaptations in relation to the first assembly of Seanad Eireann.

Section 12

Temporary user of existing forms of official documents.

Section 13

Convictions by the Constitution (Special Powers) Tribunal.

Section 14

Short title.

Acts Referred to Seanad Eireann (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1936 No. 26 of 1936 Electoral Act, 1923 No. 12 of 1923 Seanad Electoral Act, 1928 No. 29 of 1928 Seanad Bye-elections Act, 1930 No. 1 of 1930 Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1933 No. 14 of 1933 Number 40 of 1937.

CONSTITUTION (CONSEQUENTIAL PROVISIONS) ACT, 1937.

AN ACT TO MAKE DIVERS PROVISIONS CONSEQUENTIAL ON OR INCIDENTAL TO THE COMING INTO OPERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF IRELAND LATELY ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE. [17th December, 1937.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:— Commencement.

1.—This Act shall come into operation immediately after the coming into operation of the Constitution of Ireland lately enacted by the People.

General adaptation of the expressions “Saorstát Eireann” and “Irish Free State.”

2.—(1) In every statute and statutory instrument in force immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution and continued in force thereafter by section 1 of Article 50 of the Constitution, the expressions “Saorstát Eireann” and “Irish Free State” (whether such expressions are expressed in such statute or statutory instrument by virtue of original enactment or by virtue of subsequent amendment or modification or are implied therein by virtue of a general or a specific adaptation or interpretation) shall— (a) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring or a period or series of periods ending before the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect (unless the context otherwise requires) in like manner as they respectively were construed and had effect immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution, and (b) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring or a period or series of periods beginning after the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect (unless the context otherwise requires) as meaning Ireland, and (c) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring partly before and partly after the coming into operation of the Constitution or in relation to a period beginning before and ending after, or a series of periods the first of which begins before and the last of which ends after, the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect (unless the context otherwise requires)— (i) in regard to so much of such thing as is done or to be done and so much of such event as occurs and such portion of such period or series of periods as is prior to the coming into operation of the Constitution, in like manner as they respectively were construed and had effect immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution, and (ii) in regard to so much of such thing as is done or to be done and so much of such event as occurs and such portion of such period or series of periods as is subsequent to the coming into operation of the Constitution, as meaning Ireland.

(2)No adaptation of the expression “Saorstát Eireann” or the expression “Irish Free State” by virtue of the foregoing sub-section of this section shall operate so as to extend the meaning of such expression as to include therein any area which is, for the time being, not within the area and extent of application of the laws enacted by the Oireachtas.

(3)Neither paragraph (c) of sub-section (1) of this section nor any adaptation by virtue of that paragraph shall operate to cause a break in or otherwise to prejudice the continuity of any such thing, event, period, or series of periods as is mentioned in the said paragraph.

Adaptation of references to the President of the Executive Council and his Department.

3.—(1) From and after the coming into operation of the Constitution, the Department of the President of the Executive Council shall be styled and known as the Department of the Taoiseach and the Taoiseach shall be the Minister who is head of that Department.

(2)Every mention or reference in any statute or statutory instrument in force immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution and continued in force thereafter by section 1 of Article 50 of the Constitution (whether such mention or reference is expressed in such statute or statutory instrument by virtue of original enactment or by virtue of subsequent amendment or modification or is implied therein by virtue of a general or a specific adaptation or interpretation) of or to the President of the Executive Council or of or to the Department of the President of the Executive Council shall,— (a) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring before the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect (unless the context otherwise requires) in like manner as it was construed and had effect immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution, and (b) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring after the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect, unless the context otherwise requires, as a mention of or reference to (as the case may require) the Taoiseach or the Department of the Taoiseach.

(3)All moneys provided by the Oireachtas of Saorstát Eireann for the purposes of the Department of the President of the Executive Council during the financial year which began on the 1st day of April, 1937, shall be deemed to have been so provided also for the purposes of the Department of the Taoiseach during the said financial year and shall accordingly be applicable during the said financial year for the purposes of either the Department of the President of the Executive Council or the Department of the Taoiseach, as circumstances may require.

General adaptation of references to officials and authorities.

4.—(1) Every mention or reference in any statute or statutory instrument in force immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution and continued in force thereafter by section 1 of Article 50 of the Constitution (whether such reference is expressed in such statute or statutory instrument by virtue of original enactment or by virtue of subsequent amendment or modification or is implied therein by virtue of a general or a specific adaptation or interpretation) of or to any official person or body or any governmental authority, whether legislative, judicial, or executive, established by or under or functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann shall,— (a) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring before the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect (unless the context otherwise requires) in like manner as it was construed and had effect immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution, and (b) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring after the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect (unless the context otherwise requires) as a mention of or reference to the official person or body or the governmental authority (as the case may be) established by or under or functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution who or which corresponds to or has the like functions as such official person or body or governmental authority established by or under or functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann.

(2)If any question shall arise as to the official person or body or governmental authority established by or under or functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution who or which corresponds for the purpose of this section to a particular official person or body or a particular governmental authority established by or under or functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann, such question shall be determined by the Taoiseach whose decision thereon shall be final.

(3)The general adaptations made by this section shall be subject and without prejudice to all specific adaptations made by or under any other section of this Act, and in the event of any inconsistency between such general adaptations and any such specific adaptation, such specific adaptation shall prevail.

Power of the Government to make special adaptations and modifications.

5.—(1) For the purpose of ensuring that the laws in force in Saorstát Eireann immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution shall continue to be of full force and effect in accordance with and to the extent provided by Article 50 of the Constitution, the Government may by order make all such general or specific adaptations and modifications of any statute or statutory instrument continued in force by the said Article 50 as shall, in the opinion of the Government, be necessary for the purpose aforesaid.

(2)A specific adaptation or modification made under this section may, where in the opinion of the Government the circumstances so require, be inconsistent with any adaptation or modification, whether specific or general, made by any other section of this Act, and in every such case the specific adaptation or modification made under this section shall prevail.

(3)Every order made by the Government under this section shall, unless such order otherwise provides, have and be deemed always to have had effect as from the commencement of this Act.

(4)Every order made by the Government under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as conveniently may be after it is made, and if either such House shall, within twenty-one days on which such House has sat after such order is laid before it, pass a resolution annulling such order, such order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

The Central Fund and the Exchequer.

6.—(1) The fund mentioned in Article 11 of the Constitution as the one fund to be formed by the revenues of the State shall be called and known as the Central Fund and is in this section and the next following section of this Act referred to for purposes of distinction as the Central Fund of Ireland.

(2)Every mention or reference in any statute or statutory instrument in force immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution and continued in force thereafter by section 1 of Article 50 of the Constitution (whether such mention or reference is expressed in such statute or statutory instrument by virtue of original enactment or by subsequent amendment or modification or is implied therein by virtue of a general or a specific adaptation or interpretation) of or to the Central Fund of Saorstát Eireann or of or to the Exchequer of Saorstát Eireann shall— (a) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring before the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect (unless the context otherwise requires) in like manner as it was construed and had effect immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution, and (b) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring after the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect, unless the context otherwise requires, as a mention of or reference to (as the case may require) the Central Fund of Ireland or the Exchequer of Ireland.

Consequential provisions in respect of the Central Fund.

7.—(1) All moneys, investments, securities, and other assets which, immediately before the coming into operation of the Constitution, constituted and formed part of or were included in the Central Fund of Saorstát Eireann shall, immediately upon the coming into operation of the Constitution, become and be included in and assets of the Central Fund of Ireland.

(2)All moneys owing to the Central Fund of Saorstát Eireann immediately before the coming into operation of the Constitution, whether then due and payable or to become due and payable (whether certainly or contingently) at a future time, shall, immediately upon the coming into operation of the Constitution, become and be owing to the Central Fund of Ireland and shall be payable to and recoverable for that Fund accordingly either (as the case may require) immediately or as and when they respectively fall due.

(3)All moneys owing to any Minister or governmental authority for the benefit of or for or in any way on behalf of the Central Fund of Saorstát Eireann immediately before the coming into operation of the Constitution, whether then due and payable or to become due and payable (whether certainly or contingently) at a future time, shall, immediately upon the coming into operation of the Constitution, become and be owing to the corresponding Minister or governmental authority functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution and shall be payable and recoverable, either (as the case may require) immediately or as and when they respectively fall due, for the benefit of or for or on behalf of the Central Fund of Ireland to and by the like or corresponding persons and in the like manner as before the coming into operation of the Constitution.

(4)All debts, liabilities, and responsibilities of and all charges on the Central Fund of Saorstát Eireann subsisting immediately before the coming into operation of the Constitution, whether then due and payable or to become due and payable (whether certainly or contingently) at a future time, shall, immediately upon the coming into operation of the Constitution, become and be (as the case may be) debts, liabilities, or responsibilities of or charges on the Central Fund of Ireland and shall be paid or discharged out of that Fund accordingly either (as the case may require) immediately or as and when they respectively fall due.

The seal of the Government.

8.—(1) The Government shall have an official seal which shall be officially and judicially noticed.

(2)The seal of the Government shall, when affixed to any instrument or document, be authenticated by the signature of the Taoiseach or of the Tánaiste or of a secretary or other officer of the Government authorised by the Taoiseach to act in that behalf.

(3)More than one officer may at any time be authorised under the next preceding sub-section of this section to authenticate by his signature the seal of the Government, but such authorisation of two or more officers shall not render the signature of more than one such officer necessary for the authentication of the said seal.

(4)Every order or other instrument sealed with the seal of the Government shall, if such seal purports to be authenticated in accordance with this section, be received in evidence without further proof and, in particular, it shall not be necessary to prove any signature affixed to such instrument for the purpose of such authentication or to prove the office or authority of the person whose signature such signature purports to be.

(5)If no such seal as is provided for in the foregoing provisions of this section is available at the commencement of this Act, it shall be lawful for the Government to use, until such seal is available, the seal of the Executive Council of Saorstát Eireann, and for that purpose it is hereby declared and enacted that the seal of the Executive Council of Saorstát Eireann shall, in the circumstances and for the time aforesaid, be the seal of the Government within the meaning of this section and this section shall apply thereto accordingly.

Temporary user of existing official seals.

9.—(1) Until an official seal has been provided and is available for the use of the Taoiseach, it shall be lawful for the Taoiseach to use as his official seal the seal used by the President of the Executive Council as his official seal immediately before the coming into operation of the Constitution, and such seal of the President of the Executive Council shall, while it is so used by the Taoiseach, be for all purposes the official seal of the Taoiseach.

(2)It shall be lawful for every official person or body and every governmental authority, whether legislative, judicial, or executive, who or which is required by law to have an official seal, to continue until a new seal has been provided and is available for him or them to use as his or their official seal the seal used immediately before the coming into operation of the Constitution as an official seal by (as the case may require) such person, body, or governmental authority or the immediate predecessor of such person, body, or governmental authority.

(3)Every seal used, by virtue of the next preceding sub-section of this section, as an official seal by any official person or body or by any governmental authority, whether legislative, judicial, or executive, shall, while it is so used, be for all purposes the official seal of such person, body, or governmental authority.

Revivor of enactments relating to Seanad Eireann.

10.—(1) In this section the expression “the Act of 1936” means the Seanad Eireann (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1936 (No. 26 of 1936).

(2)The Act of 1936 is hereby repealed as on and from the date of the first assembly of Seanad Eireann.

(3)The repeal by this section of the Act of 1936 shall (save as is otherwise expressly provided by this section) operate to revive and bring into force again on the date of such repeal every Act or part of an Act repealed by the Act of 1936 and, accordingly, as from the date of such repeal every Act of the Oireachtas of Saorstát Eireann (including private as well as public Acts) passed before the Act of 1936 and every order, regulation, or other instrument made under any such Act shall (save as is otherwise provided by this section) operate, have effect, and be construed as if the Act of 1936 had never been passed, but with and subject to the modification that every reference in any such Act or instrument to Seanad Eireann shall be construed and have effect as a reference to the House of the Oireachtas to which the name “Seanad Eireann” is given by section 1 of Article 15 of the Constitution.

(4)Nothing contained in the foregoing sub-sections of this section shall operate to revive any of the following Acts or portions of Acts and all such Acts or portions of Acts shall continue to be repealed and inoperative, that is to say:— (a)

Part VII

of the Electoral Act, 1923 (No. 12 of 1923), and so much of section 65 of that Act as includes a Seanad election within the meaning of the word “election”, and also all references in the said Act to Seanad elections and Seanad electors; (b) the Seanad Electoral Act, 1928 (No. 29 of 1928); (c) the Seanad Bye-elections Act, 1930 (No. 1 of 1930); (d) section 4 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1933 (No. 14 of 1933).

(5)Nothing in this section shall prejudice or affect any specific repeal, revocation, or amendment of any Act, order, regulation, or instrument affected by the Act of 1936 made after the passing of that Act.

Adaptations in relation to the first assembly of Seanad Eireann.

11.—(1) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to every Act of the Oireachtas of Saorstát Eireann which was passed after the Seanad Eireann (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1936 (No. 26 of 1936), that is to say:— (a) every provision in any such Act whereby any order, regulation, report, or other instrument is required to be laid before Dáil Eireann shall, in relation to any such instrument made on or after the day of the first assembly of Seanad Eireann, be construed and have effect as requiring such instrument to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas; (b) where any such provision as is mentioned in the next preceding paragraph of this sub-section empowers Dáil Eireann to annul the instrument referred to in such provision by a resolution passed within a specified number of days on which Dáil Eireann has sat after such instrument is laid before it, such provision shall, in relation to any such instrument made on or after the day of the first assembly of Seanad Eireann, be construed and have effect as also empowering Seanad Eireann to annul such instrument by a resolution passed within the same number of days on which Seanad Eireann has sat after such instrument is laid before it, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under such instrument.

(2)The following provisions shall have effect in relation to every Act of the Oireachtas of Saorstát Eireann which is expressed to come into operation immediately after the coming into operation of the Constitution and in relation to every Act of the Oireachtas which is passed before the first assembly of Seanad Eireann, that is to say:— (a) every provision in any such Act whereby any order, regulation, report, or other instrument is required to be laid before each House or both Houses of the Oireachtas shall, in relation to any such instrument made before the day of the first assembly of Seanad Eireann, be construed and have effect as requiring such instrument to be laid before Dáil Eireann only; (b) every provision in any such Act whereby anything is required or authorised to be done by both Houses, or each House, or either House of the Oireachtas shall, in relation to anything done or to be done before the day of the first assembly of Seanad Eireann, be construed and have effect as requiring or authorising (as the case may be) such thing to be done by Dáil Eireann alone.

Temporary user of existing forms of official documents.

12.—(1) It shall be lawful for every official person and body and every governmental authority, whether legislative, judicial, or executive, for so long as may be convenient, to use, for the purposes of any official document issued, received, provided or otherwise used by him or them, the form of document which was lawfully so used immediately before the coming into operation of the Constitution.

(2)Every form of document used, by virtue of this section, for any purpose by any official person or body or any governmental authority, whether legislative, judicial, or executive, shall be deemed for all purposes to be lawfully used for that purpose.

(3)An impressed stamp shall be deemed to be a document within the meaning of the foregoing sub-sections of this section and those sub-sections shall apply and have effect in relation to impressed stamps accordingly.

Convictions by the Constitution (Special Powers) Tribunal.

13.—(1) Except in capital cases, the Government may, in their absolute discretion, at any time remit in whole or in part or modify (by way of mitigation only) or defer (conditionally or unconditionally) any punishment imposed by the Constitution (Special Powers) Tribunal.

(2)Whenever a free pardon has been granted by the President to a person convicted by the Constitution (Special Powers) Tribunal, any forfeiture or disqualification occasioned by such conviction shall, as from the date of such pardon, be annulled.

Short title.

14.—This Act may be cited as the Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1937.

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