Page "President of Ireland" Paragraph 19

* Every formal address or message " to the nation " or to either or both Houses of the Oireachtas must have prior approval of the Government.

Other than on these two ( quite rare ) occasions, there is no limitation on the President's right to speak.

While earlier presidents were exceptionally cautious in delivering speeches and on almost every occasion submitted them for vetting, Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese have made much more use of their right to speak without government approval, with Mary McAleese doing many live radio and television interviews.

Nonetheless, by convention Presidents refrain from direct criticism of the Government.