The President has called a meeting of the Council of State to discuss asylum legislation over fears it was rushed through the Oireachtas.

The Irish Times says Michael D Higgins is extremely concerned over the use of the guillotine on the legislation in the Dáil - meaning there was a limited debate.

He wants the Council to meet on December 29th to discuss if three sections of the International Protection Bill are repugnant to the Constitution - the one of most concern to him surrounds the definition of the family.

It is the second time President Higgins has asked the Council to meet - the first was over the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

Conor O'Mahony, a lecturer in Constitutional Law at UCC says it's regrettable that important legislation was guillotined through the Dail.