Page "President of Ireland" Paragraph 33

Candidates must be Irish citizens and over 35 years old.

However, there is a discrepancy between the English-and Irish-language texts of Article 12. 4. 1 °.

According to the English text, an eligible candidate " has reached his thirty-fifth year of age ", whereas the Irish text has this as " ag a bhfuil cúig bliana tríochad slán " (" has completed his thirty-five years ").

Because a person's thirty-fifth year of life begins on his or her thirty-fourth birthday, this means there is a one year's difference between the minimum ages as stated in the two texts.

Various proposals have been made to amend the Constitution so as to eliminate this discrepancy.

At present, however, the Irish version of the subsection prevails in accordance with the rule stated in Article 25. 5. 4 °.