Council of state named

A BRITISH councillor is among seven people nominated to the Council of State by President Michael D Higgins.

The body offers the President advice on constitutional matters.

The most surprising nominee is London Labour councillor Sally Mulready, who works with the Irish community in Britain.

The others are:

*Michael Farrell, senior solicitor with Free Legal Advice Centres and previously involved in the Northern peace process.

*Prof Deirdre Heenan, of the University of Ulster.

*Judge Catherine McGuinness, ex-senator, Supreme Court judge and president of the Law Reform Commission.

*Prof Gearóid Tuathaigh, professor emeritus at NUI Galway.

*Ruairí McKiernan, a community activist and founder of youth organisation SpunOut.ie.

*Gerard Quinn, director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at NUI, Galway.

They will sit with the 17 other members which include Taoiseach Enda Kenny and former president Mary McAleese, as well as ex-taoisigh Liam Cosgrave, Albert Reynolds, John Bruton and Bertie Ahern.